Japan Press Weekly

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2015 July 29 - August 4 [POLITICS]

Anti-war-bills citizens group established at initiative of LDP Hiroshima Pref. assembly member

A Liberal Democratic Party member of the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly took the initiative in setting up a citizens’ group in his constituency, Shobara City, to oppose Prime Minister Abe’s war bills.

All members of the 20-member Shobara City Assembly, except a Komei Party member, expressed their support for this group.

The group’s inaugural meeting took place on July 31 with city assembly persons, including two Japanese Communist Party members, and people from various organizations, including trade unions and women’s groups, participating. The meeting elected the LDP prefectural assemblyperson, Kobayashi Hidenori, as the chair of the group. In the meeting, participants resolved to organize citizens regardless of their political affiliations and scrap the war bills through citizens’ efforts.

Chair Kobayashi said, “Only public movements can stop Prime Minister Abe’s runaway policies. I hope citizens’ groups like ours will be created throughout Japan.”

City assembly chair Horii Hideaki, who was elected as vice chair of the newly established group, said, “Strict abidance by the Constitution is the top priority for the Japanese people. From Shobara City, we need to convey to the central government our firm objection to the war bills.”