Parliament adopts no war resolution in opposition's absence

SMN

The Lower House of the Diet adopted on Friday a resolution to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War despite the absence of the main opposition party and dissent from within the coalition government.

The wording of the resolution was finally approved among the three ruling parties of the Liberal Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party of Japan, and the New Party Sakigake after a prolonged squabble which had shown a wide gap in their views on Japan's acts and responsibility for the War.

The opposition party, Shinshinto, whose amendments were rejected by the coalition, had its 171 members refused to attend the session of the Lower House in protest while the Communist party voted against the draft, accusing it for being not specific enough. Also absent from the session were roughly 70 lawmakers from the coalition side who were opposed to the wording of the resolution.

This was an extraordinary event since the Diet resolutions have usually been adopted with the endorsement of all parties except for Communist party's occasional opposition.

The resolution reads:

"This House of the Diet, on the occasion of the 50th year since the war, expresses its sincere mourning to the war dead throughout the world and victims of war and other acts.

"In view of the number of colonial rules and acts of aggression in the modern history of the world, we recognize such acts committed by our country and the suffering inflicted upon the peoples of other countries, particularly the nations of Asia, and express deep remorse.

"We must transcend differences in historical views of the past war, and build a peaceful international community by humbly learning the lessons of history.

"This House, under the ideal of lasting peace stipulated in the Constitution of Japan, hereby expresses its determination to open up a future of coexistence for humankind by working hand in hand with the countries of the world.

"We affirm the above." (Resolution translated by SMN)

(6/10/95)

SMN

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