On July 18, RENGO held its “7. 18 Meeting at Diet / Prevent the Worsening of the Health Insurance Law” at the House of Representatives Members Offices. Approximately 200 participants including representatives from the four opposition parties attended the meeting. They pledged their support to develop activities that will frustrate the Diet agenda until the very end of the session. Furthermore, RENGO has planned to conduct a sit-in before the Diet on July 25 and 30.

Photo:RENGO encouraged the opposition parties to stop regression.

RENGO General Secretary Kusano testified as a witness in the House of Councilors on July 16 at the Committee of Health, Welfare and Labour, where he demanded the killing of a bill that would revise the Health Insurance Law. At the meeting he said, “we have piled up various activities to combat the bill, which include demonstrations, sit-ins, and so forth, and now we are in the final stages.” Kusano continued saying, “if at this crucial stage the average citizen’s burden is increased, it is painfully obvious that the economy will worsen.” He then asked the opposition parties to unite together to develop intensive activities and work in complete solidarity until the end.

Also attending the meeting were Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Kan, Social Democratic Party Secretary General Fukushima, Liberal Party Chairman of Diet Affairs Committee Yamaoka, and Independent Party Representative Tanabu as well as others. Each of the representatives from the opposition parties displayed their ironclad commitment respectively. Kan said, “I think the opposition parties are united in the common view of wanting to halt the bill. We cannot allow any increase of burden on the people without structural reform.” Fukushima stated that “We should plunge a scalpel into the notorious collusion among politicians, bureaucrats and businesses involved in medical service. The four parties will unite and tackle the matter with invincible determination.” Yamaoka stated that “the reform bill includes items that we feel we must stop even should it demand a Diet member’s position. The House of Councilors is our last bastion. We mobilize all of our resources to stop that bill.” Tanabu continued saying, “the government should first and foremost make every effort not to place further burdens on the people.”

Representatives from affiliated organizations also expressed various opinions. Included among them, a member from ZENSEN (Japanese Federation of Textile, Garment, Chemical, Mercantile, Food and Allied Industries Workers’ Unions) said, “we hope the opposition party Diet members do all they can to stop further worsening of the law. We expect them to come up with the game-saving goal.” Likewise, a JAM (Japanese Association of Metal, Machinery and Manufacturing Workers) member, expressed his opinion that “we have been listening to the deliberations and clearly see from the ruling parties’ postures that they think it is OK just to conduct routine deliberations. Is it admissible for people who are so far removed from the nation’s consciousness to decide on issues like health insurance which are so important to the people?”