【Statement】

Zenroren will face off against New Prime Minister Abe

Mr. Shinzo ABE, president of Liberal Democratic Party, was nominated as Prime Minister today. The new ruling power consists of LDP and New Komei Party is established.

His predecessor Koizumi’s 5 year term triggered deep contradiction in domestic and Japanese diplomacy, such as visit Yasukuni Shrine to beautify the Japan’s war of aggression during the Second World War, expanding and strengthening of Japan-US military alliance worldwide or structural reform policy. Not only to continue his predecessor’s policy, but also Prime Minister Abe does not recognize the fact of Japanese war of aggression and its colonial control in Asia. From this point, it is believed that the power is one of the most dangerous ones and anti-people cabinet in the post war period, because he does not hide his nationalist view and looks upon the Japanese Constitution as an enemy.

In LDP presidential election, Mr. Abe stated he would promote to revise the Constitution in 5 years, as well as consider the rights of collective defense. It shows his clear intention to revise the substance and promote further reinterpretation the Constitution. He also takes a hostile view of the Fundamentals of Education Laws, whose government draft revision has been discussed before the Diet, as “residuum of occupational era”, and enforce patriotic spirit in education and strengthen state control to make Japan war readiness nation. He declared to further promote structural reform policy to serve the interests of big enterprises with the slogan of “Re-challenge”, while social gap and poverty has seen in every social aspects and regions. It has been a cause of a lot of anger and anxiety among the people. He indicates to increase consumption tax rate to 10 %, and would propose the bill in an ordinary session in 2008 after the Upper House election in 2007.

These anti-people plans and nature should be criticized not only domestically, but also from overseas. We have already witnessed broad and strong development of people’s movement against revision of the Constitution and the Fundamentals of Education Laws. We believe that we will be successful if we build up strong and broad movement in corporation with people and various groups based on our demands.

Zenroren firmly protests against mal-revision of the Constitution and the Fundamentals of Education Laws, and transforming Japan into war-capable nation involving US-led war, and further strengthen our movement confronting new Abe administration in order to change the politics to serve for the people not for big enterprises. In the coming 165th session of the diet, we will make our utmost efforts to abolish evil bills such as on the Fundamentals of Education Laws, Referendum bill, Defense Ministry establishment bill and Conspiracy Law.