To Move Forward with Violation of Constitution Lawsuit against Japan`s Prime Minister`s Visit to Shrine

21 organizations, including Japan`s national network of Bereaved Family and Japan`s National Church of Council (NCC) announced in the press conference, held in Tokyo yesterday, that they oppose to Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro`s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine on August 15th.

Representatives of the organizations submitted a statement that demands the suspension of the shrine visit to the cabinet. They said in the statement that ``Prime Minister`s visit to the Yasukuni is a violation of constitution which declares the separation of religion and politics. It is also a disregard of those who have suffered under the colonial rule. Requests by South Korea and China for the suspension of visit to the shrine are not interferences in the domestic affairs, but rights of the concerned parties.`` ``Prime Minister should build good neighborly relations by suspending the visit to the shrine after considering reasons for the opposition both in Japan as well as in overseas, `` they urged.

If Prime Minister goes ahead with the shrine visit, these organizations plan to hold a rally against the visit inside the shrine on the day of his visit. Some organizations plan to file a violation of constitution lawsuit.

ksshim@donga.com