The Coalition of Citizens |
| Coalition's name changed Thank you for your support and cooperation shown to our association. We started this association in the fall of 2001 by the name of "Coalition Against the War of Revenge" to oppose the United States' invasion into Afghanistan soon after the tragic September 11 events. This name was designed to imply the following will of the initial co-representatives --- We should not deal with the "revenging War" and "Terrorism" on the same basis in a phrase "No terrorism, No revenging war", we should, in stead, look what makes the real background of the so-called terrors. We have to object the revenging war where the world's superpower United States is repeatedly slaughtering innocent people despite that the U.S. itself has sown the seeds of terrors and must be accused. Since then, we have continued this name. In 2003, however, the U.S. began to invade Iraq and, at last, ground troops of the Self-Defense Forces were dispatched there from our own country, Japan. Now, anti-Iraq war has become the focus of our activity. In these circumstances, not a few members of the association are questioning if we should stick to the name "the War of Revenge" because the Iraq war is not a revenging war but an outright invasion by the U.S. There, in consideration of the situation where our intention can hardly be conveyed by the long-lasted name of "Against the War of Revenge", we decided to change our society's name to "The Coalition of Citizens Against War". Here, we also inform our address and phone & fax number changed as follows: 2-16-9-301 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan Tel 03-3868-6630 Fax 03-3868-6631 Email-ad: action@leo.interq.or.jp http://www.interq.or.jp/leo/action/index.htm (E-mail& http address are not changed.) October 17, 2005 The Coalition of Citizens Against War Co-representatives: Tatsuo Ikeda, Kouken Tsuchiya, and Makoto Morii |
| 11.30 Emergency Rally Stop the Dispatch of SDF to Iraq by the Koizumi Government ! Let's block their evil scheme to revise the Constitution for the worse ! Date and Time Nov. 30th, 2003, start at 2:00 pm (The doors open at 1:30pm.) Place Japan Christian Hall 03( 3205)5411 Conference Room at the 6th floor ( Tozai-Line Subway Five minutes' walk from Waseda station) (JR Yamanote Line Takada-no-baba station . Change to the College Bus. One minute's walk from Nishi-Waseda stop ) |
| Oct. 12, 2003 Rally Appeal
We never admit President Bush of the US and Prime Minister Koizumi in this country to agree , at Japan-US Top-Level Conference , on the dispatch of the Self-Defense Force to Iraq and our country's donation of war expenditure. " Get out , invaders ! " "Let's build up our own government with our own hands !" These cries of the people in Iraq are being trampled upon by the military boots and the bullets of Bush Empire in order to get over the collapse of their military occupation . We , all Japanese workers ,students and citizens , should never allow Prime Minister Koizumi , Bush's faithful dog , to promise Bush , who is being surrounded by a towering rage of the whole world , to shoulder a large amount of war expenditure , and what's more , to dispatch 1,000 soldiers of the SDF . It's the time now we should unite with people in Iraq, who are fighting against the colonialism by the US , and should make our voice even louder in this country --- "We oppose the US's occupation of Iraq ! Let's stop the dispatch of the SDF ! " Let's stop the evil scheme of Bush Empire to conquer the whole world with the power of all the workers , students and citizens in the world ! And , what's even worse , Koizumi is talking big that they're going to make up their revision plan of the Constitution by November in 2005. We have to stop completely their intention to change the Constitution for the worse and to revise the Fundamental Law of Education for the worse , too . How we can prevent those in power from dragging us again into the road toward a war of aggression ? Our struggle is at a crucial situation at the moment. We have to resist the evil propaganda of anti-foreign nationalism , and build up the solidarity among the people in North and south Korea and this country ! Let's declare now "We oppose the revision of the Constitution !" and construct a huge common front of ours and strengthen it ! Oct. 12 , 2003 All the participants in 10.12 Rally - In Indignation against the Atrocities by Bush Empire !- |
| We're going to hold a Big Rally on Oct.12th
" In Indignation against the Atrocities by the Bush Empire ! " We'll present the following invitation message to the people all over the world , who're acting for peace and anti-war . Oct.12 Big Rally In Indignation against the Atrocities by the Bush Empire ! We Oppose the Military Occupation and Control on Iraq by the U.S ! Let's stop the dispatch of the SDF troops ! Coalition Against The War of Revenge ( Co-representatives: Toru Yuge , Makoto Morii , Koken Tsuchiya , Tatsuo Ikeda ) We Oppose the Military Occupation and Control on Iraq by the US! Let's stop the dispatch of the SDF troops " Go out , Invader the U.S. ! " -- the anger of Iraqi people against the occupation and control by the USA-UK Allied Forces has now been bursting into flames . Many people were killed like mere worms , more than 80% of the people there have been deprived of jobs , and the life-lines ,such as food , water supply , electricity and petroleum and so on , were destroyed . People are forced to live life , frightened by the danger of Cluster Bombs ( more than 1,000 children have already been killed by them ) , and of being atomic-bombed by Depleted Uranium Bombs . The Bush Regime , driven into a corner by up-flaring battles of anti-U.S.A. , anti-occupation by Iraqi people , and driven to the situation where they can't maintain their military control there , is entreating the Security Council to dispatch the multinational forces. The neo-conservative group of the Regime has come to say openly , "@As We have never had any colonies , we have made mistakes in Iraq . and so would do again after this . " " More soldiers , more money and more personnel ! " What the Bush Regime called " the reason of the war , the evidence of the existence of weapons of mass destruction "turned out , after all , to be nothing but false , and they are condemned , with Blare, by the world . Don't allow the Bush Empire to rule Iraq by force ! U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has urged Japan , who is getting cold feet over dispatching the Self Defense Force personnel to Iraq , to send them to help their military control there , saying ," Don't walk away from the task , although supporting the reconstruction of Iraq won't be like attending a ' tea party ' ", referring to the dangers and risks of the operation . Prime Minister Koizumi , responding to this ,is hurrying to prepare for sending on-the-spot investigation corps for the dispatch within a week . Let's stop the dispatch of SDF troops , who are intending to help the U.S. Army , which has been committing every conceivable atrocity there . Let's fight hand in hand to stop their dispatch to the battle field , which is , in the end , to violate Article 9 of the Constitution of this country . Let's act in a body with Iraqi people who are resisting and fighting against the colonial policy over Iraq and the Middle East by the U.S.! Their battles of anti-colonialism have been blazing up rapidly in many parts of the Middle East and Muslim countries . In Palestine , the Government of Israel , violating the Cease-Fire Agreement , invaded the west coast area of the Jordan and the Gaza Strip again , and are attempting to assassinate the leaders of Hamas each day . Palestinians are fighting against these attacks of genocide with an unconquerable spirit . In Afghanistan , also , the battles against the U.S. Army and Karzai Government Army , have been growing more and more intense , especially in Southern areas . Let's make our movement for peace and no-war in this country much bigger , in solidarity with Muslim people who are fighting courageously against the Bush Empire's atrocities . We absolutely oppose the revision of the Constitution for the worse ! Let's stop the change of the Fundamental Law of Education for the worse ! We object to the anti-foreign doctrine ! Let's strengthen the solidarity of people in South , North Korea and this country ! Prime Minister Koizumi directed Yamazaki , the Secretary General of Liberal-DemocraticParty ,to compile their revising plans of the Constitution of this country by November,2005 ,the year of 50th anniversary of the L.D. Party . With this , Yamazaki decided to introduce the Bill of the Referendum before an ordinary session of the Diet next year . Koizumi Government , after all , has started to change the Constitution , above all Article 9 of it , for the worse . To crush this evil plot , we have to struggle to create a big joint action to oppose the revision of the Constitution strongly . Let's act to stop the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education for the worse , as well . The Koizumi Administration has been adopting the policy to be bluntly hostile to North Korea , like pushing ahead with extraordinary inspections of the North Korean ferry Mangyongbong-92. And shooting troubles have been occurring frequently at the institutions of North Korean General Alliance and Bank of North Korea . The government , taking advantage of the " abduction issue ", is persistently stirring up anti-foreign movement against North Korea by means of mass media . Let's build up strong solidarity of people in South , North Korea and our country Japan to object to this hostility policy by the Koizumi Administration . Let's break down the Bush Empire's stratagem to dominate the world by the power of labors , students and citizens all over the world ! The Bush Empire , possessed by the illusion that their incomparably overwhelming military power was almighty , branded the power which turned against themselves as " terrorists ", and wiped them out by force one after another -- straightforwardly with a leadoff attack theory and independent actionism . They are scheming to dominate the whole world . Let's break down this American evil plot completely by the power of labors , students and citizens all over the world , in solidarity with Iraqi and other Muslim people . Guideline for the Rally «Title» " 10.12 Big Rally -- In Indignation against the Atrocities by the Bush Empire ! " We Oppose the Military Occupation and Control over Iraq by the U.S ! Let's Stop the Dispatch of the SDF troops ! «Slogan» Let's act in a body with Muslim people who are fighting against American colonialism in Iraq and the other Middle East countries ! We strongly object to the revision of the Constitution for the worse ! Let's stop the change of the Fundamental Law of Education for the worse ! We never accept anti-foreignism ! Let's strengthen the solidarity of people in South , North Korea and Japan ! Let's break down the Bush Empire's evil plot to dominate the world by the power of labors , students and citizens all over the world ! «Date and Time» Oct. 12th , '03 1:00 pm - «Place» Nakano Zero Hall ( JR Nakano Station :8 minutes walk from the south wicket ) « Program ( Plan )» Opening Address ---- by one of the co-representatives On -the -Spot Report on Iraq ---- by a journalist Presentation of the Issue Short Skit Panel Discussion Appeal of Solidarity Closing Address Sponsor : Coalition Against The War of Revenge Co-Representatives : Toru Yuge ( Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University , Former President of Ferris Women's University ) Makoto Morii ( Former President of Meiji Gakuin University ) Koken Tsuchiya ( Former President of the Japanese Federation of Bar Association ) Tatsuo Ikeda ( Painter ) Ladies & Gentlemen in the world , let's act in a body with Muslim people , never approving of the Bush Empire's atrocities ! Please send your joint messages to this Rally . It's OK if it's not a long one . We're looking forward to getting them by E-mail by Sep. 30th . (Sep. 4 , '03 ) |
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| June 1st, 2003 We Impeach the Endorsement of "The War Contingency Legislation" in the House of Councilors ! Let's Stop the Enactment of "The New Iraq Law"! Coalition Against The War Of Revenge Co-Representatives Toru Yuge ( Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University , Former President of Ferris Women's University ) Makoto Morii ( Former President of Meiji Gakuin University ) Koken Tsuchiya ( Former President of the Japanese Federation of Bar Associations ) Tatsuo Ikeda ( Painter ) Appeal at the 6.1 Big Rally, "In Indignation against the Atrocities by Bush Empire ! "
Nothing is more deceptive than this . That's because he never mentioned the slaughters of the Iraqi people and soldiers there by MOAB-bombs , Daisy-Cutters , Depleted Uranium bombs , Cluster bombs and so on , but he sang his own praises about the invasion of Iraq which they had pushed by force , trampling down the voices against it all over the world, and ignoring the UN. This "declaration" was nothing but what concealed the fact that the war by " Bush Empire "was intended to plunder the oil in that country , not to liberate the Iraqi people . Today , Paul Wolfowitz , the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense said , in public , that it was merely an excuse for the aggression on Iraq to have it throw away weapons of mass destruction , didn't he ? The arrogant Bush Empire is aiming to overthrow the anti-U.S. governments in Syria , Iran , North Korea and so on ,and rule the Middle East and the whole world under itscontrol . If we couldn't stop this tyranny by them , the world of the 21st century should fall into a dark one . The Koizumi Administration in this country decided to cast in their lot with the Bush Empire , which is taken the lead by the neo-conservatives , and vowed to dispatch the Self-Defense Force troops to Iraq at the Japan-U.S. Top-Level Conference the other day . The Koizumi Administration , which have already had the War Contingency Legislation endorsed with the consensus of both the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Party in the House of Representatives , are also going to have it passed and approved at the plenary session of the House of Councilors on June 6th ,just after the Evian Summit. And , on top of that ,they're aiming to dash off from the enactment of the New Iraq Law to the revision of the war-renouncing Constitution of this country for the worse . The situation has just grown tense . We shouldn't put out that flame which had been flaring up in many places in the world in the face of the invasion war by U.S. and UK . The time has come now when we're to burn with indignation against " Bush Empire"'s atrocities , and go on ahead with strong antiwar movement . Iraqi people , whether they are the Shiites , the Sunnis or the other groups , are keeping on resisting with fortitude under the slogan , " No Occupation by the U.S. Army ! We Seek the Government of our own ! " Thinking deeply of their sufferings and rage , we should unite firmly with them and create the fight , resolutely with an indomitable spirit , here in Japan . " No Military Occupation or Control on Iraq or the Middle East by U.S. !" " No Dispatch of Self-Defense Forces ! " Let's fight it out more strongly , in solidarity with South and North Korean people ,to stop Koizumi Administration's stirring up Antiforeign nationalism , and to prevent the passage of the War Contingency Bills at any cost ! All the participants in the 6.1 Big Rally" In Indignation against the Atrocities by Bush Empire !" ( This Rally was held successfully and solemnly with over 1,050 people , young and old . ) |
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No Military Control over Iraq and the Middle East by
the U.S .A! Stop the Enactment of " The Laws to deal with Emergencies" ! Let's attend the 6.1 Big Rally - In indignation against the Atrocities by the Bush Empire ! " Coalition against The War of Revenge (Co-Representatives : Toru Yuge ,Makoto Morii , Koken Tsuchiya ,Tatsuo Ikeda ) Let's object to the military invasion and colonial control on Iraq by U.S.A. and U.K. Armies ! The USA and UK Armies , trampling on the voice of " Peace and No War ! ", which spread like wildfire all over the world , began the invasive war , committed all sorts of atrocities and ,as a result , occupied Baghdad by force of arms on April 9th . They bombed Iraqi people with the most brutal weapons of mass destruction , like Daisy-Cutters ,Banker-Busters , Cluster bombs , Cruise missiles, Depleted Uranium Bombs , and so on ( Their number has been said tens of thousands. ) , which murdered indiscriminately tens of thousands soldiers and citizens there . Besieged by Iraqi people , who ,flashing with anger and hatred , held out on disobedience, resisted and made a counter attack , the USA and UK Armies could collect no more than tens of people to play the drama of " Knocking down the statue of Hussein ", which was intended to put on a show of " Iraq's Liberation ". Therefore ,they couldn't help pulling the statue down with the US Army's armored car . Not being able to make up even a puppet regime , they're beginning a directly military and colonial control by ORHA ( " Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance ") under the direct control of the Pentagon , monopolizing exclusively the concession of oil and reconstruction in Iraq . What's the " Liberation of Iraq "? Where on earth is the " Democratization of Iraq"?It's nothing but a robber's logic , using the name of " God "and " Liberty ". Don't allow the USA to escalate their invasive war ! The Bush Administration , especially the Neo-Conservatives , being arrogant with this victory , have begun a threat , naming Syria , Iran and North Korea as their next targets .They're under the illusion that their overwhelming military power is almighty , and are going to wipe out by force and arms one nation after another which objects to themselves,branding them as " a terrorist state ,""a terrorist group ," -- This " Bush Empire" is cunningly ambitious to have full control of the countries in the Middle East and the whole world , revealing their preemptive attack logic and independent actionism . At present American economy is facing as serious a crises as ever met , and they're scheming to overcome it by spending larger sums of money on arms . We can never permit their atrocities or outrages . " Get out , America !" " No Colonialism ! " -- People in Iraq are taking action to fight against the USA everywhere in that country . People in the other Middle East countries , Muslim world , also are standing up to share the intense pain of the people in Iraq , Palestine and Afghanistan . Let's object to the atrocities of " the New Empire" America , joining hands with Muslim people who're courageously continuing their fight in defiance of the tyranny of USA and Israel . Let's make up a strong international solidarity as well , hand in hand with the people in the USA , who're fighting for antiwar movements ! Let's Stop the Enactment of "the Laws to deal with Emergencies" and "Iraqi-related Laws"! The Koizumi Administration in this country expressed a firm support for this invasive war to Iraq , and took part in it . The Kitty Hawk and the combats carried on it , whose home port is in Yokosuka , massacred Iraqi people , and the Aegis battleship is working in cooperation , playing an important role in the military operation of the US Army . Ranked , by Bush , among " five victorious nations (USA , UK , Australia , Spain , Japan)", Prime Minister Koizumi decided to send official to ORHA . He's intending to participate in the USA's Military occupation in order to make gains of the invasive war after every atrocity by force . In addition , he is aiming to having " The law to support the reconstruction of Iraq "in this ordinary session of the Diet to send the Self-Defense Force to Iraq controlled under the USA Army . We should stop this folly , which entirely denies Article 9 of the Constitution in this country . And also we have to stop the enactment of " The Laws to deal with Emergencies ", which Koizumi is scheming to establish in this Diet as well . This law is , no doubt , aiming at an invasive war , for the cause of coping with armed attack. The Koizumi Administration , intending to convert this country into such a country that can fight wars , is planning to enact this law all at once in this Diet , by catching up some opposition parties in the amendment discussion . That's just why they're struggling hard to spread propaganda of " the threat of North Korea ", and to brainwash us , the Japanese , with the ideology of the anti-foreign sentiment . Let's object to the cooperation in an invasive war based on the Japan and USA Alliance and let's act right now in solidarity with the people in South and North Korea ! The Koizumi Administration justifies the participation in the invasive war against Iraq , expressing the view that the Japan and USA Alliance should be the first consideration to the international cooperation . And , moreover , they emphasized the necessity of the Alliance because of the existence of" the threat of North Korea ". But that means we're going on the very way of entirely assisting and supporting " the asymmetrical war " by the Bush Administration , who are aiming to conquer the world and justify their preemptive attack , clamoring against " terrorism ". That's so a dangerous thing that may bring about the hell in East Asia . Let's oppose the Koizumi Administration's cooperation in the USA invasive war based on the Alliance of both countries . Let's stand hand in hand with the people in Iraq , South and North Korea , and stop, at any cost , the expansion of invasive wars by the USA and the participation in them of our government . Let's oppose the propaganda of anti-foreign sentiment , and stop the enactment of " The Laws to deal with Emergencies ". Let's attend the 6.1 Big Rally , " In idignation against the Atrocities by the Bush Empire !" Guideline for the Rally Title: The 6.1 Big Rally -- In indignation against the Atrocities by the Bush Empire ! " Date and Time : June 1st , 2003 1 pm. Place : Nerima Culture Center ( Seibu-Ikebukuro Line or Metropolitan Subway: Nerima station : five minutes' walk to the north ) Program : 1) Speech by the President 2) Report. "The unknown realities of the Iraq invasive war by the USA" 3) Indepth report by Prof. Fujio Mizuoka (Professor of Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo) "The violent actions by the Bush Empire and the beginning of its fall" 4) Appeal to stop the enactment of " The Laws to deal with Emergencies " by 20 organizations of Land , Sea , Air and Port Labor Union 5) A skit 6) Relay Talk 7) Appeal of the Rally 8) Speech of Closing Coalition Against The War of Revenge Co-Representatives : Toru Yuge ( Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University , Former President of Ferris Women's University ) Makoto Morii ( Former President of Meiji Gakuin University) Koken Tsuchiya ( Former President of the Japanese Federation of Bar Association ) Tatsuo Ikeda (Painter) |
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Protest To Mr. George W. Bush, the President of the United States of America & Mr. Jun-ichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan
You said the other day to Michael Moor ," Shame You bombed and destroyed the cities and towns in Iraq where the innocent people lived , and murdered many of them , saying you would give justice and democracy to poor Iraqi people , who were persecuted by the despotic ruler . You arrested many people in your country who opposed the war which you called" the War of Justice." Among them was the minister of the church you belong to , wasn't he ? While you are in the secure place , your soldiers are sent to the battlefields with a small pay and just one meal a day , and that you're making them kill the people there . We hear that antiwar songs , like "Imagine", "Where have all the flowers gone ?" are being prohibited from being broadcast . Your "freedom", your "democracy" have just thrown off all disguise ! Iraqi people never want such kind of freedom or democracy ! Withdraw immediately your Army and stop murdering people there ! George W. Bush , We'll never pardon what you call " justice", "democracy" or " peace"! To Prime Minister Koizumi , You said you would support the war by U.S.A and UK. You said you would send the Self-Defense Force of our country for the reconstruction of Iraq after the war . You said that's necessary for our coping with the menace of North Korea . You're scheming to attack North Korea with the U.S. Army after this war of aggression on Iraq , saying "That'll serve to build the democracy of North Korea ", aren't you ? You're aiming , for that purpose , to enact "the Legislation to deal with Emergencies" in this Diet . We won't be deceived by your trick ! North and South Koreans in Japan will never accept it ! We , the Japanese , and the people in North and South Korea will never bear the war policy of both Japanese and U.S.A. governments . "Although you said that's the war for democracy and justice, whatever is the justice, murdering people ?" "Our country , Japan , the time has come now for you to appeal for antiwar , with the dignity of the atomic-bomb victim ." All the participants in the April 6 Emergency Rally, "We denounce the invasion on Iraq by U.S.A and UK ." "Don't allow our government to participate in the war !" Sponsored by "Coalition Against The War Of Revenge" Co-Representatives Toru Yuge ( Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University , Former Presidentof Ferris Women's University ) Makoto Morii ( Former President of Meiji Gakuin University ) Koken Tsuchiya ( Former President of the Japanese Federation of BarAssociations ) Tatsuo Ikeda ( Painter ) |
| Protest Honorable President George Bush of the United States of America ,
"Do you want to flaunt' the strong U.S.', even by attacking Iraq and invading other countries ? Stop right now attacking Afghanistan , and withdraw the invasion plan on Iraq ." We also wish to say to our Prime Minister Koizumi , "Till when have you been following U.S. blindly ? Are you going to repeat those mistakes of ours of the Pacific War half a century ago ? Never dispatch a battleship nor a combat to foreign countries . Drive away those silly second-generation politicians who said , ' We ourselves can own nuclear weapons '! Now it's just the time we should keep up the Peace Constitution of this country which we are proud of deeply from our heart . We should never let Article 9 of the Constitution die out , which clearly states our renunciation of war and army ! " And moreover , Yahweh , the God of Judaism , Christ , the God of Christianity and Allah , the God of Islam , are the same , the One and Only God , named simply differently . Honorable President Bush , you seem to think of this war of revenge on Afghanistan and attack to Iraq as a kind of religious conflict . But , as Christians are the children of the One and Only God ,so are Muslims . God must be grieving over the struggles between the sons and daughters of God now . Honorable President Bush , please remember once again these words in the Bible :--- " A new commandment I give unto you , that ye love one another ; even as I have loved you , that ye also love one another ." (John, Chapter 13, Paragraph 34) We firmly oppose the invasion on Iraq by the U.S Army . We strongly claim that the items above-mentioned be accomplished . Coalition Against The War of Revenge Nakamura Bldg. 302, 2-7-14 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0002, Japan Co-representatives Toru Yuge (Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University and Former President of Ferris Women's University) Makoto Morii( Former President of Meiji Gakuin University) Koken Tsuchiya( Lawyer , Former President of the Japanese Federation of Bar Associations ) Tatsuo Ikeda ( Painter ) |
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25000 people rallied against the "Laws to deal with Emergencies" in Tokyo
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 The Coalition sponsored a meeting on Dec.
2 at a public hall in central Tokyo,
where
more than 850 people gathered from
the Metropolitan
area. In response to violently changing
situations
in Afghanistan, the sponsor added new
slogans
for the meeting: Stop the bloody ground
war
by US forces! No to the control over
Afghanistan
by the US, UK, and Russia through the
deployment
of multinational forces! Participants
developed
active discussions over the issue and
made
up their minds: to stop the war of
aggression
immediately, to stop Bush launching
another
warmonger, and to stop Japanese troops
join
the war.After a video showing atrocities of the war, two of the co-representatives opened the meeting. - Dr. Toru Yuge (Professor Emeritus of the Univ. of Tokyo and Ferris Univ.): We must try to realize that, behind the attack, there were the sentiments of those who had to resort to the terrors. It is not permissible to kill thousands innocent people for a single suspect by saying 'It's on terrorism'. We should build a peaceful world according to our war-renouncing Constitution. It is for this sake that we must contribute to the world. This is an honourable mission of Japan. - Dr. Makoto Morii (Former President of Meiji Gakuin Uni.): Any nation would fail if it would impose its own values on others and pursue its interests exclusively. Let us say No to the United States. I'm resolute to oppose Japan joining the war. In the next session, a relay talk was held. - Fujio Mizuoka (economic Professor of Hitotsubashi Univ.): We are told the war is over, however, the most ferocious battle is now continuing in Kandahar. We have to remember the UN supports the war in the name of 'rights of self-defence'. I doubt if there is any justifiable reason in the so-called UN-sponsored solution. We should keenly be aware that America's war of an imperialist type is now threatening our own life. It is the United States that should be called the worst failed nation and vanish. - Hisashi Yamauchi (scriptwriter): Compared with the periods when movements were waged against the Security Treaty or the Vietnam War, now there is no sense of tense in society. It is in such a situation when I was asked to support the Coalition. I willingly join its activities and, at first, delivered leaflets in Yurakucho. Discussing with each person is making me know how people are now thinking. I continue the Coalition's activity to make things better. - Patrick McNally (Society To Be Friendly With Arab Children): The root cause is the state terrorism by Israel. Now a campaign is going in the US for extending the war. The banner reads 'Onto Baghdad'. The meaning is to bomb Iraq and other nations. Let us oppose the US expanding the war. Let us struggle to make pacifism of Japan's Constitution the principles for the world. A breaking speech was made from Ms. Nakamura (student of the Univ. of Tokyo). She was arrested in a government-sponsored public hearing in Tokyo just because she voiced against Japan's participation in the war at the hearing that she attended with her ID card officially given. 'As soon as I voiced, several police officers rushed to pick me out. Prime Minister Koizumi responded to me, saying that the SDF dispatch was within the Constitutional framework; I voiced that he was exercising the banned right of collective defence, as being dragged by them. Thinking that the arrest was precisely an oppression of speech under war, I kept silence in jail against police investigation.' She received the wormest response from the audience. Then messages were presented from Koken Tsuchiya (Former President of the Japanese Federation of Bar Associations), Tatsuo Ikeda (Artist), and others. A panel was staged among discussants: a student from Waseda Univ., Shinzai Matsubara (Teachers against War Participation), Shigenobu Hamazaki (League against roars from the US Atsugi Base), and Hiroyuki Nakano (Keihin Liaison against Fascism). Discussions appeared also from the audience actively including from students and postal workers. Hamazaki said 'Joining the war violates the Constitution. After the revised guidelines for defence co-operation was formulated, legislation for the public order is also tightened. They are also oppressing student and other opposition movements to enter the war more smoothly.' Nakano stressed 'Bush said Afghanistan was just the beginning. This war does never end until the US terminate the defiant.' - Emiko Omura (Conductor of the Tokyo Bach Chorus): Now Russians, Americans, Brits and others are coming there as their like, saying 'for aid', and doing as their like. The UN is doing nothing. Afghanistan is becoming the prey of big powers. I think it impossible to expect the UN Forces to watch the situation.' - Among speakers from the floor, there was a member of the Communist Party. She denounce the JCP leadership, saying 'I'm a member of the JCP. From the beginning, Media is working according to a scenario by the Japanese and American government, and every Japanese is made to move according to the scenario. What are politicians are doing? The Communist Party is the worst. The party refers to nothing about the background of terrors or what the US has been doing against the world.' - Harahiro Akiyama (Member of Sagamihara City Council): I think the postal worker really felt that Japan had come to be a target of terrorism. Japan's politics, which follows the US as for anything, has to be changed. - Nakano: The JCP are voicing 'against terrorism' from the almost same viewpoint of the rulers. Power to stop Bush's warmongering and a third world war can be produced only through active solidarity with people who are advancing antiwar movements or movements against America's tyrannies over the world. - Hamazaki: What underlies Japan's Constitution are bloods, tears and resentments of a vast number of people who suffred from the war of aggression. Let us continue the Coalition's movement to defend the Constitution! - Matsubara: Workers can stop the war. But the Rengo Convention took a resolution 'to eradicate terrorism'. We have to pull down the labour aristocrats. - A student from Waseda Univ.: Now is the time to advance antiwar struggles together. The meeting adopted an appeal: Denounce the US / UK aggression! No to Japan's war participation! In finalizing the meeting, participants express their resolution to advance the movement by voicing in chorus: 'Fight it out in unity!' |
Oct. 7 Urgent Rally Against The War of Revenge
Reports excerpted from the Japanese media Mainichi Shinbun, Oct. 8th Meetings against the Bill for Anti-Terrorist Measures 1250 people including professors, student and other civil activists gathered Sunday at Hibiya Hall in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The meeting was initiated mainly by a civil society named 'National Network 2001 to Stop the Constitutional Revision'. For the initiators Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo Toru Yuge opened the meeting by saying, 'Retaliation must be stopped. We would like people to think over the world peace.' Mr Yasuhiro Matsui, Chief Director of the Gensuikyo (Japan Conference to Ban A- and H-Bombs), said, 'I have the experience of conscription when I was studying in university. I believe there is nothing more precious than peace.' Tokyo Shinbun, Oct. 8th No to a war disregarding Afghan refugees A meeting was held Sunday at Hibiya Hall in Tokyo against US retaliatory attacks at Afghanistan. The meeting was initiated by a steering committee based on a broad-based coalition of antiwar peace groups and attended by over 1200 people. Among professors and other intellectuals giving speeches in succession, Toru Yuge, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo and Ferris University, expressed his concern about the current circumstances for a 'retaliatory war' by saying, 'We do not allow them to start a war in disregard of Afghan refugees. Let us stop to think over the situation of the world.' 'I do not permit the suicide bombing. But we should also think over why they determine to sacrifice their own lives. We cannot find a justifiable response before we clarify the root cause of terrorism and remove it', said Mr Yasuhiro Matsui, Chief Director of the Gensuikyo (Japan Conference to Ban A- and H-Bombs). Koken Tsuchiya, former President of the Japanese Federation of Bar Associations, stressed that 'As for any hydrous crime, it would be important to find its motivation and backgrounds. Terrorism is a crime, not a war, which must be judged by international laws.' Makoto Morii, former President of Meiji Gakurin University, said that Prime Minister Jui'ichiro Koizumi should show the US not the 'flag' but the Constitution of Japan renouncing war. Other speakers from trade unions and student associations stressed the Palestinian and other issues to be resolved as the conditions of the terror attacks.
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Nov. 4
No Aggression Against Afghanistan 