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Statements Archive |
LAST UPDATE
November 1, 2005
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| October 17, 2005 |
Joint statement from the citizens of East Asia:
We Protest Against the Visit of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Yasukuni Shrine |
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Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine is an act of violence and a threat to the peace and security of East Asia. It obstructs the stable diplomatic relationship between Japan and its Asian neighbors, which is to be built upon trust, by cooperation, by overcoming the brutal history of the past and by constructing common agreed historical perspectives. We protest against Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine, and demand the cessation of such a policy.
Throughout the history of colonialism and aggressive war on Asian neighbors, Japan has caused serious damage to the people of Asia. However, although Japan has managed to restore its economy, becoming the second largest in the world, it has not yet succeeded in addressing its historical responsibilities for waging aggressive war and colonization against the neighboring countries of Asia.
Moreover, 60 years after the Asia-Pacific War (Second World War) ended, the Koizumi regime is now promoting measures which cause Japan to lose the trust of the people of Asia, such as preparing for the revision of the pacifist Japanese constitution following the Final Report of the Constitution Research Council of the House of Representatives, glorifying the history of invasion, adopting textbooks that distort history, and postponing the withdrawal of the Self- Defense Forces from Iraq.
We strongly claim that creating a peaceful East Asia in which no threat of conflict or tension exists is only possible by rebuilding relationships based on trust, mutual understanding and cooperation between East Asian citizens and Japanese citizens, both on a governmental and citizen level.
We therefore consider the visits to Yasukuni Shrine by the Japanese Prime Minister to be an act that strongly impedes the future peace building of East Asia. We demand that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Japanese politicians immediately cease the repeated visits to Yasukuni Shrine, and take a responsible stance towards all Asian countries. |
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