Japan Press Weekly

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2016 March 2 - 8 [POLITICS]

Civil society alliance formed in Kansai to promote opposition parties’ cooperation

Representatives of civic groups opposing the war legislation in the Kansai region held a news conference in Osaka City on March 7 and announced the forming of a civil society alliance to promote collaboration among opposition parties in the build-up to this summer’s Upper House election.

The civil alliance is composed of several groups such as Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy-s Kansai (SEALDs Kansai) and local associations of academics and parents opposing the war laws. The newly-formed organization is calling for many other citizens’ groups to support and join it.

The alliance’s primary objectives are as follows: abolition of the national security-related legislation; restoration of constitutionalism (including the revocation of the Cabinet decision enabling Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense); and implementation of policies to protect individual dignity.

Along with prompting opposition parties to field joint candidates in the single-seat constituencies in the region (Shiga, Nara, and Wakayama prefectures), it is planning to promote the 20 million signature campaign as well as organize symposiums addressing issues pertaining to the war legislation.

At the press conference, Doshisha University Professor Okano Yayo, one of the initiators, referred to the fact that some key members of the ruling coalition called the opposition leaders’ recent agreement for election partnership an “unprincipled coalition ignoring differences in thought and creed”. She stressed, “The Abe administration infringes upon the Constitution which guarantees the freedom of thought and beliefs. I’ll work to expand movements that work to revive constitutionalism which forms the foundation to preserve personal dignity.”

A SEALDs Kansai member, Shioda Jun, said, “Ordinary citizens and politicians are standing on an equal footing. Instead of ‘asking a favor’ of politicians, we ourselves will struggle to achieve these three goals.”