Weekly "ZENSHIN" issued by RCL-NC, Chukaku

No2117, 15 September 2003
....Council worker union conference deny revision of its charter

No.2125, 10 Nov 2003
....We impeach right-wing terror on teachers' union

No2130, 15 Dec 2003
....Letter: I Am Convinced Of Mr. Hoshino's Not Guilt

No2131, 22 Dec 2003
....What We Think: The War At Home & The War Abroad


=================================================================
...COUNCIL WORKER UNION CONFERENCE DENIES REVISION OF ITS CHARTER
Weekly Zenshin, No2117, 15 September 2003 issued by JRCL-NC, Chukaku
http://www.zenshin.org/f_zenshin/f_back_no03/f2117.htm#a1_1
=================================================================

1st Chapter: SHOCK TO RENGO! VICTORY TO CHANGE THE STREAM!
2nd Chapter: ELECT FIGHTING EXECUTIVE, REGENERATE ZHICHIRO!


WORKERS' RAGE HITS RIGHT-WING NATIONAL UNION CENTRE.
BURY "21ST CENTURY DECLARATION" AT EXTRA CONFERENCE ON 28 SEPTEMBER!

Japan's Council Worker Trade Union (ZICHIRO) held the 74th National Conference from the 26 to the 27 of August at Yokohama. The delegation voted down the "21st Century Declaration", the new Charter proposed by the executive. This is the first step for the convulsion in the biggest trade union in the right-wing National Union Centre (RENGO). It was a political earthquake triggered by the historical advance of the international class struggle after the anti-US guerrilla warfare on 11 September 2001. The working class cannot be exterminated despite their leaders' betrayal, despite the harsh attack by the capitals. The conference was the good example for this. The union has Extra Conference on 28 September. The union members have to reject the Declaration, and to elect new fighting executive.


....First Chapter: SHOCK TO RENGO! VICTORY TO CHANGE THE STREAM!

During afternoon on 28 August, the 3rd day of the conference, ZHICHIRO union executive took a division on their "ZHICHIRO 21st Century Declaration". The approvals, however, have not reached the necessary two thirds, the regulated numbers for change the Charter. Thus, the Declaration was denied.

The details of the votes are shown below:
Total number of delegations: 1007
Attendance: 991
Regulated numbers to change Charter: 661
Actual number of the vote for the amendment: 626
Number of the vote against the amendment: 348
Number of the invalid vote: 17
Election for new executive was expected soon after approval of new Charter, but was postponed.


The Declaration was proposed for the first time at Asahikawa Conference in 2001, but was left on one side because the executive's "scandal" was revealed. It had 3-time amendments before the conference this time at Yokohama, and it was plainly denied here. This is the clear result of the 3-year controversy about the new Charter. This was historical victory.

The Declaration was supposed to replace ZHICHIRO's 1954 Basic Charter (Three Principles) and 1976 Charter. Changing the Charter for ZHICHIRO is just like changing the Pacific Constitution for Japan.

The major content of the change is:
[1] Abandonment of workers' movement,
[2] Employer-employee "partnership" line,
[3] "Employer-employee partnership government" plan,
[4] Promotion of changing the Constitution debate and acceptance of the Constitution amendment,
[5] Today's version of "Great Asian Partnership Block".

The new Charter plan means conversion and means throwing down trade union movement principal. It means not to fight against capital, not to fight for worker's life and right, but to co-operate government and war. It is to obey "OKUDA Vision" written by Okuda, the president of Japan KEIDANREN (Federation of Economic Organization) and to co-operate change the Council Worker system, privatization, wage cut, employment instability and ignoring workers' right.

Last year, ZHICHIRO annexed ZENKYORO, trade union for workers who work at horse, bicycle, and boat and car race. It has planed to absorb ZENKOKU IPPAN (National Union of General Workers) in 2004, ZENSUIDO (All Japan Water Supply Workers' Union) in 2005, and TOSHIKO (union for transport workers at megalopolis) in 2006 and to form "Region Public Service Field Union" later.

Head Office of ZHICHIRO has concealed their real intention for the amendment, has not set it in branch level discussion in order to prevent rank and file workers' fight back. Rank and file members, however, have revealed the real content of the Declaration and have campaigned against it nationally. "Stop the adoption of 21st Declaration!" - This appeal has attracted the hearts of members and delegations.


TAKE BACK EVERYTHING

We see the possibility of union democracy revival and ZHICHIRO reclamation in the very denial of the Declaration. We can have confidence and have to fight for ZHICHIRO's reclamation.

The Head Office of ZHICHIRO had not expected the denial at all. Soon after the vote, KITAOKA, chair of the union, was stunned and confessed in front of all the members: "I terrible regret about this. Since the formation of our union in 1954, this is the very first situation. I feel staggered and have no idea what to".

Following morning of the refusal vote, Mr. KITAOKA admitted their defeat at the debate and said: "We understand the refusal as no confidence to the executive". But yet, he threatened: "If we leave the political vacancy untouched, our union could self-destruct", and turned to bay: The union has to set extra conference at the end of September and the present executive must keep working till that extra conference, and will propose "Revised 21st Declaration" there.

He also added: "The failure of new Chart adoption will undermine our status in RENGO (right-wing National Trade Union Centre), and will damage the whole trade union movement. We cannot fight the next national election for the Diet". This is naked intimidation to make the opponents disturbed.

It is common to chant slogans at the end of rally, but he shamelessly chanted: "At the Extra Conference, let's adopt the 21st Declaration by a unanimous vote! Let's reclaim our union under the new executive!" and was naturally booed down by the floor.

Union delegations and members denied the Declaration at its top decision making body, because they sensed the danger of death as trade union. The natural result of this should be resignation of present executive. They simply cannot keep sitting on the seats of executive and propose the Declaration again. There is a rule that does not allow us to retry the same issue after it is settled. Under the trade union democracy, there is no way but drop the amendment of Charter.

Return to the top of this page

....Second Chapter: ELECT FIGHTING EXECUTIVE, REGENERATE ZHICHIRO!

The denial of the 21st Declaration prevented its conversion at the last minute. Has no one expected this historical victory? The answer is: We had hints and grounds for that.

Rengo, the right-wing and the biggest national union centre in Japan, issued "View on 16 May" and gave approval to war cooperating National Emergency Legislation last year. It was the starting point of their big shift toward war cooperating framework. But fighting Council Worker worker has decided "One Year Battle" and declared: "Members of ZHICHIRO, the biggest union in Rengo, should make a resolution to overthrow Head Office of Rengo, and fight for that at the front line". That was the basic ground we, the JRCL-NC, could organize the fight with our New Leading Line and idea of Four Major Trade Union Battle. Supported by this New Line, we organized big campaign at workplaces from outside of the union, and union members started to respond our appeal and stand up against the union boss.

Union members have had lots of study circles to criticize new Charter at each workplace, branch and district. The members devoted themselves to "achieve 336 votes which is necessary for preventing the adoption", and rose up at the Youth Body General Meeting, Women Body General Meeting and Work in the Field Convocation General Meeting on 24 August, and at four-day Conference itself from 26 to 29 August.

At 8 o'clock in the morning of 26 August, at the first day of the Conference, Council Worker members of All Japan Trade Union Exchange Centre showed themselves in front of the Conference building. Kanagawa Prefecture police answered with unprecedented oppression in the history of ZHICHIRO union. Riot police with special shield made of duralumin surrounded the workers and supporters, threatened and said: "We'll arrest you!" The State authority approved KAKUMARU, Japan's Neo-fascist group to hand their leaflets, and tried to prevent ZHICHIRO members' campaign activity. It was National Emergency type oppression just like the oppression on KOKURO (railway union) provisional conference on 27 March 2002. We cannot let them do this any more.

The union delegations and observers saw the riot police and were astonished and showed their anger against the police. They saw banner which said "No to 21st Declaration!" and received leaflets. The Head Office of ZHICHIRO had to listen to members' voice and allowed leafleting, asked the riot police to release the restrain. Not a few delegations left their messages: "We hope you do it!", "Go for it!" Nearly 5000 leaflets were received.

At the discussion, delegations from 14 prefectures gave contributions against the Declaration:
"We have had not enough discussion" (Akita and others),
"It is too abstract and impossible to understand" (Fukushima),
"We are worried that the Head Office could abandon industrial action" (Kochi),
"We cannot have fighting guideline from this Declaration" (Miyagi),
"Anti-war movement has to recede with the amended Charter" (Tochigi),
"We cannot see any fighting spirit in it" (Kanagawa),
"The soul of trade union is to confront companies" (Shizuoka),
"The Declaration will not give us energy" (Yamagata),
"It is Non-fighting Declaration. The Three Principals in the present Charter are more important" (Aomori),
"We have working class viewpoint in the existing Charter" (Ibaraki),
"The present Charter shows us clearly the mission of working class" (Ehime),
"We cannot understand why we have to change the present Charter" (Ni'igata).

|The delegate from Ni'igata prefecture added about Anti-war movement and received a big applause: "RENGO's View on 16 May helped ruling parties and gave way to ruling-opponent talk to amend and enact National Emergency related 3 legislations. We have to reconsider sharply the fact that one of the RENGO's executive is our man and he approved the View on 16 May. When we look at the world situations, it is trade unions that are at the core of tens of millions of anti-war movement. We should get involved positively in the anti-war joint action organized by the Twenty Groups including Land, Sea, Air and Longshore trade unions".

Besides these, delegates gave many contributions: To demand crystallizing the opposition against the Constitution amendment, to criticize its Head Office accepting "minus wage increase advice" by a State-run conference body, and to oppose restructuring through government reformation and annexation of cities and towns.

As criticism against union Head Office erupted, the proposed Declaration was refused. It was a natural consequence. But the battle has just begun. We obtained great victory, but are not allowed to stay the same status. We have to take responsibility for the future, and the coming Extra Conference is the crucial stage.


ASSEMBLE AT THE NOVEMBER WORKERS' RALLY!

ZHICHIRO union, which has a million members, is now a decisive battle field of working class. The whole process and the result of it have great influence on all Japan trade union movement, especially RENGO. The fight in ZHICHIRO conference gives energy to other unions in the same RENGO umbrella. The victory at the August Conference cheered KOKURO railway workers union members. KOKURO members are now fighting for reclaiming the union, and fighting against their Head Office who has plotted to self-destruct the union and join the right-wing RENGO. KOKURO has its own Conference from 13 to 14 of September. We have to organize the solidarity movement.

We could achieve huge victory just because we have had experience of Doro-Chiba trade union movement and National Railway related movement. We have to learn more lessons from Doro-Chiba's fighting, and to fight the Railway movement as strategically important one. We can bring the fresh air of railway union into ZHICHIRO union movement.

What is important is the recognition of crisis, period of war and great unemployment. In the war period, trade union movement is the fundamental key to stop wars and create another world. Through engaging the fighting, we can renew union unity and solidarity.

Now we need new fighting trade union movement and new National Trade Union Centre. ZHICHIRO union refused the 21st declaration and can take one more step forward to enter the new stage. It depends on the Extra Conference. All the workers in Council Worker! We propose you to jump in the "historical one month to choose our future". We have to make the most of the fruit of the Conference which denied the ZHICHIRO's new Charter proposal.

Smash the expected rollback by the reactionary Head Office!
Bury the new Charter proposal at the Extra Conference!
Elect the fresh fighting executive!

Doro-Chiba has opened up a new international solidarity era. Follow the Doro-Chiba and Three Union Joint Fight, and assemble at November Workers' Rally! Stop Self Defence Force's dispatch to Iraq!

All workers! All students! Rise up and fight for September-October Anti-War & Political Struggle!

Return to the top of this page

======================================================
....WE IMPEACH RIGHT-WING TERROR ON TEACHERS' UNION
Weekly "ZENSHIN" No.2125, 10 Nov 2003
http://www.zenshin.org/f_zenshin/f_back_no03/f2125.htm#a5_2
======================================================

At the night of 26th October, a set of explosive was found in front of NIKKYOSO (National Teacher's Union) head office at Chiyoda city, Tokyo. The same day, bullets were shot at Tama-Tohsho branch of Teachers's Union at Kunitachi city, Tokyo. Later, media received the telephone call by right-wing gangster, "Founding Nation Volunteer Army, Traitor Subduing Troop" to state its commitment.

We impeach these right-wing terrors on teachers' union. We propose all the working class people to fight back against (1) those attacks, (2) aggressive war on Iraq and North-Korea by US-Japan imperialism, and (3) corruption of the Education Standard Law and the Constitution. We propose to fight for: defence of working class struggle and victory.

The right-wingers have kept attacking Soren (Korean General Association in Japan), Social Democratic Party head office and the house of a Foreign Ministry official since November last year. They have called themselves as "Traitor Subduing Troop", "Troop for Conquering Korea" and so on. They also attacked Teachers' Union Hiroshima Prefecture head office with gun.

There have been 20 right-wing attacks in total so far. These have been coincided with Koizumi's scheme to dispatch its troop to Iraq and to attack North-Korea. They happened together with the government's move to change Education Standard Law in order to enforce patriotism to students. Both right-wingers and government want to eliminate anti-war camps with their force, agitate xenophobia against Korean people and drag Japanese working class people to aggressive war again.

But, despite Koizumi's war mobilization schism, despite Rengo, national centre of trade unions' big shift to the right-wing, the fighting spirit of working people has not been destroyed yet. It is rather opposite. Under the oppression of the war and unemployment, workers are angry much more than before. The reason why right-wingers attacked Hiroshima teachers' union and Tama teachers' union is both unions have kept fighting against HINOMARU-KIMIGAYO ("national flag and anthem") and corruption of Education Standard Law. They are still holding flag of traditional NIKKYOSO movement which means "Never send our students to the war again!" despite the submission of NIKKYOSO Head Office to the government. The right-wingers are concentrating their attacks on fighting unions. We should not let those unions be alone.

We have another right-winger. THE fascist Shintaro Ishihara, Tokyo governor, showed his support to those right-wingers' attacks and said: "There was a reason that they were attacked." on 10th of September. He has not waited the corruption of Education Law and started to attack teachers in Tokyo. Education Committee of Tokyo issued a notice which says: "Schools run by Tokyo have to hoist HINOMARU, "national flag", in front of the stage at the time of opening and closing day of school. Offenders shall be disciplined." Nazi in Japan exists not just outside of Parliament, but inside also. Tokyo governor Ishihara and the Prime Minister Koizumi, they are the real boss of gangsters. What they are afraid of is the unity of workers and the expansion of anti-war movement. Let us show our militant unity and strengthen our international unity at 9th November All Japan Workers' Rally.

Return to the top of this page

====================================================
....Letter: I Am Convinced Of Mr. Hoshino's Not Guilt.
Weekly "ZENSHIN" No2130, 15 Dec 2003
http://www.zenshin.org/f_zenshin/f_back_no03/f2130.htm#a6_1
====================================================
By Yoshizhima Hikaru, Tokushima

I joined in "Tokushima Rally for setting Fumiaki HOSHINO free" on 15 November. It convinced me a lot. I have felt and learned many things: the heart of his family, justice of his fight to free Okinawa, thought of Okinawan people, and the fact that his arrest and life imprisonment was a complete frame-up.

Shoichi CHIBANA said "We, the people of Okinawa, wanted to celebrate the day of Okinawa's return from US occupation to Japan, however, there was no options but we had to fight and still have to fight against US and Japan military base", in his speech titled "Okinawa in the year 1971 and now".

Okinawa has been unjustly "preceded" 3 times so far. Being robbed its self-governing right by newly formed Japan in 1879, being occupied by US army even after Japan recovered its sovereignty in 1952, and being returned to under Japan's sovereignty but staying as US army island in 1972. Mr. Hoshino, with recognition of being a member of working class in the Main Land, fought against the reality of Military Base Island or War Island. I am one of Main Land people, too. I have renewed my resolution to struggle against war, and to remove military bases.

I heard the report from the defence and learned that Mr. Hoshino was not at the place where police officer was hit by demonstrators. It has been proved by the colour of his jacket and so on.

He has been in jail nearly 30 years so far, and kept appealing his not guilty and injustice of capitalism. We have to strengthen our movement to set him free. And together with him who is fighting in jail, we have to fight against war and occupation on Iraq and set all the people free from the oppression by imperialism.

Return to the top of this page

====================================================
....What We Think: The War At Home & The War Abroad
Weekly "ZENSHIN" No2131, 22 Dec 2003
http://www.zenshin.org/f_zenshin/f_back_no03/f2131.htm#a1_1
====================================================

- Stop Dispatch Of Japan's Troop To Iraq!
- Win Doro-Chiba's Railway Strike And National Railway Battle!
- Set 8 Kokuro Trade Unionist Detainees Free!
- Down With Reactionary Kokuro Head Office!

On Tuesday 9th of December, Jun'ichiro KOIZUMI administration set "Master Plan" at the Cabinet for sending its troop to Iraq. Finally, Japan imperialism and its troop, what they call "Self Defence Force (SDF)" will land on the battle field of aggressive war at the first time after its defeat on 1945, and pull the trigger at Iraqi people. We CANNOT let them do that!

Anti-war movement from this December to next March is important. Especially, international anti-war day on the 20th of March 2004, the anniversary day of Iraqi war is crucial. It is held in the very midst of trade unions' annual Spring Offensive. Let us fight in solidarity with working class people and oppressed people in all over the world!

THE 1ST CHAPTER:
Japan Shoulders Main Task Of Military Occupation With US-UK Troop

The "Master Plan" on 9 December was the virtual declaration of war by Japan imperialism. It means Japan came to a historic turning point. Koizumi quoted from preamble of the Pacifist Constitution, but in complete distorted way, and repeatedly said, "We will not go for war" at the press conference after the Cabinet meeting. But it is obvious for us and for people in Iraq that Japan's "SDF" works as occupier with US-UK troop.

According to the Master Plan, 1000 troops of SDF are dispatched for 1 year. Six hundred of them come from the Land SDF, and they have 200 or less vehicles including armoured cars and light armoured mobile cars. They have pistols, rifles, machine guns, mortars and antitank sidearm. The rest of them come from the Air and Marine SDF and they have 8 or less aircrafts including C-130 cargo plane, 2 or less transport ships?2 or less convoys. (Note: Technical words can be mistranslated). Koizumi has not yet told the date of dispatch, but it is openly said that advance party of Air SDF will be dispatched on the 25th of December, C-130 Cargo in the middle of January, advance party of Land SDF at the end of January and the main body of Land SDF on February or March.

The mortars have power to destroy tanks and 1 kilometres range. It is lethal weapon. Why "humanitarian recovery support" requires such heavy armaments? Japan army points muzzles of those weapons at the people in Iraq.

On the 9th of December, in Samarra where Japan's SDF is supposed to work, a thousand of unemployed workers marched and demanded jobs. The troop of Netherlands which worked for "police action" shot at marchers and wounded two of them. This is what Japan's SDF will do.

According to the Master Plan, the SDF works not just for "humanitarian recovery supporting activity" but for "security supporting activity" also. This means Japan works as rear guards for US army's "police action". Japan's C-130 cargos directly work for US army's transportation.

Thirty eight countries have stationed their armies in Iraq, including US and UK. But it is just Italy other than US and UK within G8 countries that have its army in Iraq now. Considering Japan's imperialistic status in the world, its troop dispatch has great impact. Japan surely becomes "the 3rd enemy country" for Iraqi people following US and UK.

THE 2ND CHAPTER:
"Turn Invasion To Civil War"

Soon after the deaths of Japan's diplomats, major capitalists in Japan expressed their support for the troop dispatch. Hiroshi OKUDA, the president of KEIDANREN (Federation of Economic Organization) said "We must send our troop". Kakutaro KITASHIRO, leading officer of KEIZAI DOYUKAI (Association of Corporate Executives) said "Peace and stable development in the Middle East is crucial for us. We are highly depending on its energy".

Okuda said at a press conference on 8 December: "As long as we send SDF, we, who are sending and who are sent, should prepare the worst. Otherwise, it can be much worse."

Japan's troops kill Iraqi people. And/or Japan's troops are killed by the hand of Iraqi people. - That is what Koizumi and Okuda actually want. Their aim is to (re)form SDF into genuine imperialistic army that can "kill and be killed". Koizumi insisted to say that this is the way "to position Japan at honourable status in the international society".

With the Cabinet decision, Japan has finally broken its restraint after the defeat of 1945. Now, world imperialisms started to have greater split and strife again. Under those circumstances, Japan has entered the road to aggressive wars, partly cooperate with and partly compete with US and other imperialisms.

The guerrilla war on 29 November and the deaths of 2 Japan's diplomats have shaken Koizumi and his companies. And because of this, they want to dispatch armoured troops to Iraq.

The dead 2 diplomats were working, first, at the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA), and then at the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). Katsuhiko OKU, counsellor (diplomat) was dispatched from Japan's Embassy in UK, and was staying at Saddam Hussein's Palace, and working as proxy for British army officer who was in charge of international support in ORHA. Oku was working 100% as a part of US/UK occupation force. He was literary a vanguard for Japan imperialism, and quite deliberately worked for occupation under the US-UK hegemony. We have to say that Iraqi people's guerrilla wars have had good and right reasons.

In order to stop dispatch, we have to appeal to soldiers of Air SDF at Komaki in Nagoya, Land SDF at Asahikawa in Hokkaido, and Maritime SDF at Kure in Hiroshima. "Don't go to kill Iraqi people! Refuse the orders! Our enemy is Koizumi and capitalists!"

The Democrat Party, the biggest opposition in the Diet, and Rengo, the biggest trade union national centre, have said "If we have UN resolution, we agree with SDF dispatch". We cannot rely on those "opposition". In and out of Rengo, workers have to rise and speak out "We are against any type of SDF dispatch!"

THE 3RD CHAPTER:
To Win Big Industrial Action On Wage, Pension And Tax

War and dismissal, wage cut, destruction of everyday lives are one set of attack by capitalists. In other word, it is aggressive war abroad and class war at home.

Now, capitalists cannot maintain its rule any more. They have to wage aggression abroad to destroy nationalism and self-emancipation struggle and to secure its power base and natural resource like oil.

Denial of workers' right, repressive arrests and search, destruction of trade unions' unity... They also have to wage severe oppression domestically to exploit and squeeze from working class people and to secure profits for capitalists.

All of these come from their political aim and it is not a coincidence.

So, workers need to recognize this two tier structure of ruling system. What we need is class struggle to fight against both attacks, political and economical. Trade unions that fight back against capitalists' attack have the power to stop the war, and trade unions that fight against the war have energy to protect workers' lives and rights.

Bring the achievement of the 9/Nov Workers' Rally to all the work places, schools and communities. This is the way to go.

THE 4TH CHAPTER:
RCL-NC Appeal: Donation For Revolutionary Party

(Omission)

Return to the top of this page