The Communist Party expelled a party member who published a book appealing for party reform. : Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web

On the 6th, the Japanese Communist Party expelled Nobuyuki Shochiku, 68, a member of the Kyoto Prefectural Government who wrote a book appealing for the party’s reforms, including the public election system for the party’s leader. The reason for this is that the publication of such books constitutes “factional activities” and is against the party constitution. However, it does not appear that the general public is understanding about this, and there are voices criticizing the stance that can be taken as if no objection is tolerated. In recent years, the Communist Party has called for a joint struggle with the opposition and a coalition with a wide range of citizens. What will be the impact of these tough measures? (Nakayama, Yuzuru Miyahata)

◆ “Visualize objections” If you propose a public election system for the party leader…

“This punishment makes the party’s situation even more serious.” Mr. Shochiku, who held a press conference at the Japan National Press Club on the 6th, was worried about the Communist Party, which expelled him.

The trigger for his punishment was his book “Shin’s Manifesto of the Japanese Communist Party,” published last month (Bunshun Shinsho). He declared that he would run for office this year, proposing that the Communist Party introduce a public election system for the party leader. The reason for this is that the current election method and party management “are not designed to make objections within the party visible.”

The chairman of the Communist Party’s Central Committee is elected at the party’s national convention (convention) held once every two to three years. About 1,000 delegates selected from each prefectural committee participate in the party convention. Members of the Central Committee (approximately 200 members) are elected by the delegates’ votes. From the Central Committee, key members below the chairperson are determined. Unlike the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), it does not take the form of a public election, in which party members and party Diet members vote for multiple candidates.

In his book, Shochiku points out that the cause of the stagnation of opposition party joint efforts in recent national elections is that the security and self-defense forces issues have become an obstacle. While firmly adhering to the Japan-US Security Treaty, he advocates that the basic policy of communism should be “exclusive defense without nuclear deterrence” that does not rely on US nuclear weapons. However, such an argument is very different from the communist program, which calls for the abolishment of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and the full implementation of Article 9 of the Constitution (elimination of the Self-Defense Forces). After the publication, ripples spread all at once within the party.

◆ Did you disobey the “democratic central system”?

On January 21, the party’s organ, Akahata, published an editorial by Ken Fujita, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, criticizing Shochiku’s behavior. He pointed out that Shochiku “suddenly attacked from the outside,” even though the party’s constitution stipulates that any member of the party can ask questions and give opinions to any institution of the party. He argued that not forming factions or sects in the party constitution violates the principle of “democratic centralism.”

The Party Kyoto South District Committee and the Party Kyoto Prefectural Committee, which issued the expulsion, also announced their comments on the 6th of this month. The party constitution states that “we will not create factions or sects within the party,” “we will strive for the unification and solidarity of the party, and we will not engage in hostile acts,” and “we will not arbitrarily announce opinions contrary to the decisions of the party.” He was expelled for violating the regulations.

At a press conference on the 6th, Mr. Shochiku countered the strong opposition within the party, saying, “I published it with a strong desire that the Communist Party should play a role in improving Japanese politics.” Before being punished, the party’s investigation said that he was “publishing a book and calling on party members to follow suit,” and that it was regarded as a sectarian activity. “I was stunned. Publishing is a sectarian activity, and if it is punished, the Constitution’s freedom of speech and expression will die. Even the party that promotes such a thing could perish.”

According to the party constitution, there are four levels of punishment: “warning,” “suspension of rights,” “dismissal from institutions,” and “expulsion,” with expulsion being the most severe. Is it worth it as a punishment for Mr. Shochiku’s behavior?

According to Shochiku, there was a case in 1986 when a party member, a graduate student at the University of Tokyo, who demanded the resignation of then-chairman Kenji Miyamoto of the Central Committee, was expelled for his sectarian activities. It is said that this punishment will be demanded to be withdrawn in the future, saying that it is “unusual even when viewed from the past history.”

General Secretary Akira Koike “If you are attacked, you have to protect yourself”

Chairman Kazuo Shii was asked by reporters about this issue on the 23rd of last month, and he only repeated, “It’s all about Fujita’s (red flag) editorial.” On the 6th, when the disposition was issued, the head of the secretariat Akira Koike said, “Our party will firmly protect the freedom of the press guaranteed by the Constitution. I think people are worried that the Communist Party will eliminate objections, but that’s not the case. After all, we have to firmly protect the party. If we are attacked,” he said.

On the 7th, the public relations department of the party headquarters said, “We did not expel him because he raised an objection. He attacked the organization he belongs to outside the set rules, so it was handled as an internal issue.” explanation. It is said that he took seriously Mr. Shochiku’s “attack” on the party from the outside.

However, the impact of this disposition is significant. “They threw an opportunity for us to become a more open party. It’s a pity to eliminate it like that.” A local Communist Party lawmaker spoke on condition of anonymity.

In recent years, more than a few party members have felt a sense of crisis about the declining number of party members and the aging of the party. I have to speak (the reason for the disposal, etc.) in the words of “.

A question mark on political decisions and organizational management

Voices outside the party are also harsh.

“If you propose organizational reform, then suddenly ‘expulsion’ will damage the reputation of the Communist Party.” Tatsuki Uchida, a thinker and professor emeritus at Kobe College, wrote on Twitter: When I interviewed him again, he said, “I criticized the party for its lack of transparency, but it was like proving that my assertion was correct. I doubt it as a political judgment.”

Mr. Uchida has been associated with Mr. Shochiku, who is also an editor, for more than ten years.sincere(Shinshi)A member of the Communist Party with a strong sense of loyalty to the party.” Shochiku worked at party headquarters and was once on the policy committee. For that reason alone, Mr. Uchida said, “The party said, ‘Suddenly, it started attacking,’ but did you not understand that Mr. Shochiku had such an idea? If that is the case, it is also bad for the organization’s management.” I couldn’t understand it.

“This is not enough to criticize the LDP.”

Koji Nakakita, a professor of political science at Hitotsubashi University who has written a book on the Japanese Communist Party (Chuko Shinsho), said that one of the reasons for the dismissal was that he had exchanges with party members over the timing of the book’s publication. Note that it says “activities”.

“A sectarian group refers to a permanent group within the party. In this case, even a temporary contact becomes a sectarian activity. It’s repression,” he said. He criticized, “What they say to the outside, such as constitutionalism that guarantees freedom of speech and diversity, is inconsistent with what they are doing internally.”

In the Liberal Democratic Party, which the Japanese Communist Party has criticized, Seiichiro Murakami, the former Minister of State for Administrative Reform, who called former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a “traitor,” was suspended from his post. Using this case as an example, Mr. Nakakita said, “Even if you call a former prime minister a traitor, he will be suspended from office. On the other hand, if you publish a book and give your opinion, you will be dismissed. You can’t criticize the LDP.”

Some point out that it could affect the joint struggle of the opposition parties. Jiro Yamaguchi, a professor of political science at Hosei University who worked hard to organize the joint struggle, said, “Some things, such as withdrawing candidates, were achieved through the efforts and sacrifices of the Communist Party. I am grateful for that.” I lament that the matter is negative. “The key to the success of the joint struggle with the opposition parties is to gain the support and trust of civil society.infallibility(Mubyu)It showed that the image of the party has not changed. Support will not spread if the common sense of civil society is not shared. Limin, but the Communist Party must also change.”

◆ Desk memo

If you have any objections, speak up internally. I will listen properly. But don’t tell anyone outside. That is democratic centralism. Externally speaking, it is a sectarian activity, an attack on the party. Including terminology, I wonder what era and what world view they are operating the organization. It is not a gap that can be settled with “long-established taste”. (walk)