Japan Press Weekly

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2014 May 21 - 27 [POLITICS]

JCP and lawyers say ‘No’ to Japan’s use of collective self-defense right

The Japanese Communist Party on May 21 exchanged views with lawyers’ groups about Japan’s exercise of the right to collective self-defense. They came to share an understanding of the necessity to join forces to stop that right from being approved.

In this discussion session hosted by Japan Federation of Bar Association (JFBA)’s political league “Benseiren”, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo, JCP Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki, all other 17 JCP Dietmembers, JFBA President Murakoshi Susumu, and 11 JFBA Vice Presidents took part.

Benseiren Chairman Hirayama Seigo in greeting said, “We adopt the rule of law as our foremost principle. We should work to help bring peace to the world.”

Heading the federation which has consistently opposed the move to allow Japan to use the collective self-defense right, Murakoshi said, “Our mission is to protect human rights and establish social justice. We, legal professionals placing importance on the constitutional ideals, will never accept what we consider to be unconstitutional behavior.”

JCP Chair Shii said, “Beyond the differences in political positions, let us work together to put a stop to the Abe administration which seeks to destroy the Constitution.”

JCP Yamashita noted that a majority of the general public are also against legalizing Japan’s use of the collective self-defense right by reinterpreting the Constitution, and said, “The JCP has our history of resistance against Japan’s past war of aggression. We will keep contributing to the development of people’s movements against anti-constitutionalism.”