Japan Press Weekly

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2016 March 30 - April 5 [POLITICS]

Diet discussion on bill to repeal war laws refused by LDP and Komei

The Liberal Democratic and Komei parties on March 30 agreed to refuse to start Diet deliberations on a bill that was proposed in February by five opposition parties including the Japanese Communist Party to abolish the war laws.

Commenting on the ruling coalition’s decision to not discuss the bill to repeal the war-related legislation, Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji at a press conference held on the same day in the Diet building criticized the two parties for disregarding the voices of the general public. He added that the decision reflects the governing parties’ stance of paying no attention to public opinion.

Kokuta stressed that although Prime Minister Abe Shinzo promised to continue to provide information explaining the war legislation when it was forcibly enacted in September 2015, he has neglected to keep his word.

The JCP lawmaker pointed out that an opinion poll conducted by Kyodo News in late-March shows that 39% of the respondents supported the controversial legislation and 49.9% did not. He cited that on March 29 when the war legislation took effect, 37,000 people surrounded the Diet building calling for the abolition of the legislation. He argued that the general public demands Diet deliberations concerning the opposition parties-proposed bill.

Wide recognition of the risk of members of the Self-Defense Forces killing and being killed in overseas missions is becoming a reality after the war laws came into effect, the ruling coalition’s refusal to hold Diet discussions on the bill is totally unacceptable, Kokuta said.

Past related articles:
> Public movements to repeal war laws continue even with enforcement date approaching [March 20, 2016]
> 5 opposition parties jointly submit a bill to abolish the war laws [February 20, 2016]