Photo:"We will never allow forced passage!" Yurakucho, November 25

Photo:"Staged sit-in before the Diet to oppose retrogression. November 25

The Pension System Revision Bill package, which has been in deliberation since November 16, is now facing forcible passage without any serious debate. The government unilaterally decided to hold a central public hearing on the 25th ignoring the voice of the nation, while non-government party congress members severely interrogated. RENGO waged a multi-staged counterattack beginning with a rally in the Diet on November 17, a visit the committee on Health and Welfare in session, presenting Diet members with a demand to implement RENGO policies, a sit-in before the Diet, and a Central National Action. RENGO tried in vain to push through its flat refusal against forced passage of the package without sufficient debate, but it was forced through on November 26 (see the statement).

Explanation of items in the Pension System Reform Bill package and questions from representatives of each political party were conducted at a plenary sitting of the House of Representatives on November 16. This package was hurriedly submitted at the end of the ordinary Diet session in July where the decision was made to carry it over into the next session. These bills were compiled despite opposition from labor members at the Pension Council in March. Afterwards, agreement on specific financial matters in the basic pension could not be reached between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Liberal Party, and ultimately only a cosmetic agreement was settled on.
On November 19, eyeing early approval of the bills during the current extraordinary Diet session where serious deliberation had only begun, the government forced a vote to hold a public hearing on November 25. Furthermore, the government is continuing to aggressively engage in the steering of committees. For example, prior to the public hearing, Chairman Eguchi of the Health and Welfare Committee declared by virtue of his office that they will vote on the bills by discussion in the committee on the 26.
In light of this frequent and overbearing conduct by the government, RENGO is now developing a sweeping action known as "the eight million national action." It is hoped this will put pressure on the three political parties (Liberal Democratic Party, Liberal Party and New Komeito Party) through the "Central Mass Action Fury" on November 25.
The first round in this action was a request delegation of approximately 450 people gathering at Zen-Dentsu Hall in Tokyo for a Reaffirmation Rally. Then, representatives from constituent organizations petitioned and representatives from local RENGO gathered at the National Diet for a sit-in. When visiting the Ministry of Health and Welfare the delegation threw out remarks such as "measures that freeze nursing care insurance premiums threw workplaces in municipalities into confusion. Those measures should be withdrawn or, should be left to municipality to handle." "Isn't the question whether or not the Ministry of Health and Welfare acted appropriately against the government's 'shotgun' measures in view of the coming election?"

For the finale of the Central Mass Action that day, RENGO held a street rally in front of Yurakucho Marion building in Tokyo. Approximately 1000 people from throughout the country participated in the meeting.
Holding the microphone from the start, RENGO General Secretary Sasamori explained in detail the conditions that he witnessed in the Health and Welfare Committee in the House of Representatives on November 25. "What do they mean by deciding the voting schedule even before properly hearing all the facts? If this is only posturing on their part, then it is completely meaningless for us to state our opinion." Showing his anger, he continued "I walked out in protest." He concluded his remarks on the fundamental problem of Pension System retrogression saying, "the Pension System is for those who have worked hard during their active years; they will be able to live comfortably on it and it is the root of social security. However, the government is increasing the people's share of the burden and cutting provisions. Couples only receive ¥149,000, which is less than the relief amounts after a 40-year period. It is unthinkable to force passage without sufficient debate in the Diet, which is supposedly the fountainhead of speech."
Finally, he expressed RENGO's determination to hold out to the end, "we can only appeal with our voices raised loudly in protest of the huge coalition ruling parties."
Following that, Yukio Hatoyama, leader of the Democratic Party, expressed his indomitable resolve, "Democracy is vanishing from the fountainhead of speech, the Diet, after only four hours of discussion decided to set a public hearing." (Setting a public hearing is so important because it supposes as a pre-condition for bill passage that parties insist on setting the dates for the hearing.) "Refusing deliberation or specific physical measures of protection must not be taken lightly. However, should the vote be forced, we will deny every single deliberation in the Diet."
Secretary General Sadao Fuchigami of the Social Democratic Party vigorously added "the Liberal Democratic Party uses money only to win elections. The parties out of power will fight together as one to seek dissolution of the Diet."