On August 15, DP President Renho issued the
following statement.
On this 72nd anniversary of the end of World War
II, alongside the citizens of Japan, I would like to offer my
deepest condolences to all the victims of the conflict both at home
and abroad.
The WWII inflicted enormous damage and hardship
on the people of many countries, and particularly Asian countries,
as a result of colonial domination and aggression. We vow to renew
our determination that the same mistakes must not be made twice,
and to convey this to future generations.
After the war, Japan devoted all its efforts to
reconstructing its ravaged country in order to build a free,
peaceful and prosperous democratic nation on the basis of the
pacifism of the Constitution. Simultaneously, Japan made unique
contributions to the prosperity and development of various
countries and the peace and stability of the international
community through economic cooperation, humanitarian aid, PKOs and
other initiatives. I am convinced that the path Japan followed
after the war is the correct one and we should be proud of
that.
As we commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the
end of World War II, Japan stands at a major crossroads of this
era. Attempts are being made to threaten the constitutionalism and
pacifism that Japanese citizens have continued to foster and
protect since the end of World War II. The Abe administration is
attempting to permit the unrestrained use of the right to
collective self-defense by opportunistically changing the
interpretation of the Constitution, and is plunging ahead with
making the Constitution one that disregards constitutionalism and
pacifism.
Based on the lessons and remorse of the WWII,
the Democratic Party vows to build a country that exercises
restraint in the use of force under the Constitution’s pacifism, a
country that respects constitutionalism, and where freedom and
democracy are safeguarded. Japan will also contribute to the
creation of a new peaceful order in the world, without being a
bystander. The Democratic Party hereby declares its determination
to make every effort to ensure that Japan coordinates and
cooperates with the international community to deal strictly with
moves that threaten world peace, including North Korea’s nuclear
and missile development, and is able to pursue reconciliation with
other Asian countries.