"Stop the War Bills!" rally was held in Meiji Park of Tokyo May 21. Religious groups for peace and 20 trade unions relating land, sea, air and port was the promoters of the biggest rally so far since the movements against New Guidelines had started. In accordance with the promoter's appeal, 50 thousans workers, citizens, that is, all anti war bills forces gathered the same place.
The Japan-U.S. defense guidelines were revised in September 1997 after then Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and U.S. President Bill Clinton announced the Japan-U.S. security communique in April 1996 reconfirming the importance of the Japan-U.S. security system. (New Guidelines)
The LDP government submitted the bills in April 1998 to accommodate the New Guidelines. They comprised three bills - support measures for U.S. military by Self-Defense Forces in times of emergencies in areas surrounding Japan, the amendment of the SDF law to allow MSDF ships to rescue Japanese nationals abroad, and the Japan-U.S. Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement, (ACSA).
The three bills pave the way toward a new phase of military alliance between Japan and the United States (AMPO) in case of a crisis around Japan. As the anti-war movements spreded, many workers and audinary people have become consious about this dangerous nature day by day. People has become active against bills after the government explained the purpose of the bills at the lower house plenary session March 12, and particulary after the plenary session of the House of Representatives passed the bills April 27.
Workers and people joined the May 21 rally to stop the bills being passed by the House of Councillors. In the rally, parties namely Social Democratic party and Japan Communist Party, many anti-war organizations such as the Million Signature-Collecting Campaign aganist New AMPO Japan-U.S. Guidelines and Emergency Law, trade unions, women's and religious groups, a writer and a highscool student, and a representative of Okinawa delivered speeches.
After the rally, workers and citizens demonstrated downtown in the Metropolice, carring anti-war banners, and chanting slogans to stop the war bills. It is important to keep this kind of broad joint action, strengthening anti-AMPO struggles against imperialist aggressive war.