The New Socialist Party of Japan will have the 19th National Congress on March 1 and 2 in Tokyo. Sincere debates are necessary under the critical situations in terms of the Constitution, nuclear power generation and the US bases in Okinawa. We have to discuss where to go. The party secretariat welcomes frank opinions, criticisms and requests from our readers.


YOUR FRANK OPINIONS AND REQUESTS ARE APPRECIATED


We must analyze the current situation correctly. The Abe government cannot be stable at all. The administration drives violently, relying to the ‘absolute majority’ in the parliament, though it knows well about people’s anger and dissatisfaction.


In the end of last year when a controversial law on Protection of Specific Secrets was legislated, strong opposition sentiments spread in the entire society. Thus, the Abe government has massively downed its support rate. In the mayoral elections in Nago City, Okinawa, a candidate supported by citizens successfully won the race. In the Tokyo governor’s election, reactions to oppose nuclear power generation were enhanced in the conservative circle, too.


In April the consumption tax rate will be heightened, and the Elderly Care System and Life Protection Services will be deteriorated. The right to survive will be endangered. Illusions lingering around the so-called Abenomics will vanish at any time.


Fortress of people


People, however, do not have a stronghold with which they defend themselves. They simply find a make-shift shield to protect themselves to resist desperately. Under these circumstances people are often in conflict with each other though they are allies to wage common struggles.


If a single opposition party is proud of being a fortress to cope with attacks of the Liberal Democratic Party, it cannot halt all the government’s drives effectively. Thus, the state’s power infringes people’s will; it goes on rampantly to construct a new military base in Nago City and it enforces to resume nuclear power operation.


As a result people get dissatisfied to show a hostile stance to labor unions, families supported by Life Protection Services, local assemblies and foreign residents living here. A vicious cycle of crisis of the right to survive and the declined counterattack potential on the people’s side must be cut off definitely. If failed, Hitler-like figure may appear.


The New Socialist Party sincerely wants to break through the situation. People may use an unreliable weapon in order to survive. If such a behavior is repeated, the situation worsens.


In the summer of 2016 elections will be held simultaneously for the Lower and Upper Houses. Until that time we must build up big movements to defend the Constitution and to oppose nuclear power generation and neo-liberalism. That is our task. Our responsibility will be critical. We will not pass our mistakes to others. We will not urge people egoistically to follow ‘our party’.


Joint Struggles at grass root


The New Socialist Party has concentrated utmost efforts to building up effective joint struggles with labor and civic movements as well as with the Social-democratic Party. In the coming congress we want to discuss ways how to go forward.


In this context local elections scheduled in April 2015 are definitely important. Joint struggles must be organized firmly from the grass root level. If that is not successful, we will lose in the state level elections. We are determined to field as many candidates as possible in the local assembly elections to play a key role in the communities.


In the congress we want to discuss a way to organize joint struggles from the local communities; we seek for cooperation with independent assembly members and those belonging to the Social-democratic Party, and try to run independent candidates in the common efforts.


We ask our readers to strengthen the New Socialist Party with your wisdom and power as you are a sincere critic of the social situation.


February 11, 2014