Are the Police on a which-hunt for a member of the Japanese Revolutionary Communist League?
Is the idea of cutting the US ties too idealistic?
If successful in the next election, the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) would seek to abolish key aspects of the US-Japan Security Treaty to fight against the ruling party. However, Yukio Edano, the leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), Japan’s main opposition party says the coalition with JCP would shorten the term of the cabinet if opposition parties win the next election.
The CDP’s main policy of security, such as maintaining a strong connection between Japan and the US, contradicts the JCP’s policy which is the abrogation of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. It seems likely that the party will keep quiet on issues surrounding the security treaty until after the election, however Vice-Chair of JCP Tomoko Tamura has stated that JCP will keep the point in the party platform.
Japan needs to be fully independent on security to push back the US army. The idea is unrealistic to most Japanese people, but not the rank and file supporters of JCP. The hardcore supporters took streets when the Abe cabinet passed the controversial security legislation in 2016, potentially strengthen the defence strategy in coordination with allies like the US. Therefore the double standard over this key policy seems like a dishonest. The cost of playing politics is too great that the JCP gain nothing but lose its supporters.
JCP supporters seem to have been seduced by extremism, evidenced by the cries on social media:
“Dismantle US Bases, Get back Okinawa; Crush Japan-US Security Treaty, Overthrow Japanese Imperialism!”
Japan Revolutionary Communist League is an alt-left violent group, whose aim is to achieve a communist society. The party introduce itself as a follower of the Russian Revolution and Marxism. The group famously led the Sanrizuka Struggle, a civil movement against the forceful construction of Narita airport over the land of local farmers.
Last month Police stormed into a university’s dormitory in search of a student. The ostensible reason for the raid was that the man had falsely claimed his residential address to receive the coronavirus payment. And the police reported the man is a member of the JRCL. According to reports, currently, there are 4,700 active members of JRCL.
Kyoto’s prosecutor’s office dismissed the claim but the office didn’t disclose details of the verdict.
Why did the police act with such disproportionate force for a minor offence? It could happen to anyone who unknowingly put their previous address on coronavirus pension documents. It could happen if you didn’t update the address of your driver license.
The leader of the JRCL, Takeo Shimizu was absent in public for a half-century. Last year, he was spotted in the group’s meeting and he called for the unification of people who were hit by a coronavirus. After the surprising appearance of Takeo, one of the members of the Metropolitan Police Department said that where has Takeo been for 50 years.
A TV Asahi opinion article suggests two possibilities of his appearance. Firstly, serious fractures in the group forced him out of his hermit-like existence. Secondly, perhaps time has caught up to the now 83-year-old who may be in need of medical support.
This old man is the leader of JRCL which was one of the leading groups of the most violent clash between civilians and police in 1971 - the Shibuya Violent Incident. Time seems to have softened him, as he has expressed some remorse for the deaths caused in the incident. He doesn’t seem to be capable of being actively involved in the group.
JRCL is ambitious at taking place of JCP in the parliament.
“JRCL has confirmed … that the right way of crystallizing and materializing proletarian internationalism for the working people in imperialist countries is to build up genuine
solidarity with national liberation struggles of oppressed nations, especially for Japanese working people solidarity with the struggle of Asian peoples and Asian residents in Japan, conscious of blood debts to them.”
What if the JRCL take a part in politics? I think it’s possible the party wins some seats in a national election. Why? Who could imagine The Party to Protect Citizens from NHK (currently Arashi no tou) gains the first seat in the Diet in the summer 2019 House of Councillors election?
The JCP plays an important role in the left-wing party. The party has promoted the idea of Japan on the foundation of peace. However, the idea seems to have changed. Many Japanese fear the dispute between China and the US while the missiles from North Korea flying above our heads. Is the idea of cutting the US ties too idealistic? The JCP needs to face the question, so the party can again appeal to people who believe in the power of grass-roots politics.