Brussels, 2-4 May 2004
www.icsbrussels.org , ics[at]icsbrussels.org
New Socialist Party of Japan
Japan
It is characterised by:
Anti-war demonstrations in the streets against the war in Iraq continue lately with a scale of several thousands of participants. In comparison with almost 20 thousand which took part in 2003 spring time, the number of participants has been declining. The struggles, however, have maintained certain resilience, sharing a common campaign beyond the boundaries of the Communist Party of Japan and Social-Democratic Party as well as the New Socialist Party, together with the two national centres of labour unions (one is led by the Communist Party and the other by the Democratic Party), playing an important role in the peace and anti-war movements.
The biggest disadvantage lies in the fact that a systematic participation is much weaker than that of the countries in Europe and North America. For the instance, in a street march of five thousand only a half of the participants come from labour unions. It is because the largest national centre, the Union Rengo (Japanese Trade Unions Confederation), consists of mainly company-based trade unions guided and contained by business, pursuit of Big Business, and the Democratic Party (the biggest opposition party), supported by the Rengo, is reluctant to join anti-war movements as the party agrees to the controversial war legislation.
Another weak point lies in the fact a chauvinist trend against 'North Korea', Democratic People's Republic of Korea, has won to an extent social acknowledgement, instigated by the hands of ruling class through an illustration of the 'teapodong missile' issue and the 'abduction issue'. A mood is fermented in the society: a war on Iraq is not acceptable but the government cannot avoid to legislate for a possible attack from 'North Korea' and to promote military built-up. That is why the Social-Democratic Party was unable to oppose recently the economic sanction act on Democratic People's Republic of Korea (only Communist Party objected against it).
Basing upon the chauvinist trend, the Constitution of Japan is being attacked more hastily in various moves, led to amendment; Article Nine of which prohibits any war to settle international disputes and declares non-possession of armed forces. The Democratic Party, the biggest opposition, is positively in favour of revising the constitution, though it is against the dispatch of troops of the Japan's Self Defence Forces to the war in Iraq on the ground it lacks a UN resolution. Only the Communist Party and the Social-Democratic Party oppose rewriting of the constitution, which occupy jointly 15 seats only out of 480 in the House the House of Representatives and 26 seats out of 249 in the House of Councillors. (The new Socialist Party has no seat now in the Diet as it has lost the five seats). The ruling parties are scheduled to revise the constitution in 2007 in the earliest.
Under the circumstances we are urged to build up a unified front speedily to impede the amendment campaigns. The anti-war, peace movements in Japan depend on whether we could succeed in building up such a front or not. The New Socialist Party, standing between the Communist Party and the Social-Democratic Party, is making efforts to create joint struggles among the civic movements and militant labour movements. The effects have now begun to spread across the nation.
Currently the New Socialist Party is listing candidates for the proportional representation for the election of House of Councillors to be held in July, 2004, in the organisational efforts with political parties and civic groups which oppose amendment of the constitution. Through these efforts the number of seats in the Diet which defend the constitution will grow rapidly.
In Japan people's movements against globalisation, neo-liberalism and wars are far more retarded, compared with those seen in Europe and North America. This shortcomings can only be conquered through revival in the labour movement aspired with revolutionary spirit. The New Socialist Party of Japan, being socialist, is determined to commit in this task.
We, members of the New Socialist Party of Japan sincerely hope a great success in the coming International Communist Seminar prepared by your distinguished party.