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Former PM Murayama slams Abe for dragging Japanese people into wars

Xinhua, August 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama criticized incumbent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday for dragging the Japanese people into wars, saying Abe' s self-righteous politics is intolerable.

Speaking to 400 people at a forum titled "Wars can't exchange for peace --Murayama statement and 70 years after the World War II" in Tokyo, the former prime minister once again expressed his anger against the Abe administration, saying though Abe agreed to uphold Murayama statement, his actions didn't square with his words. "Abe inherited the same belief from his grandfather Kishi Nobusuke," Murayama said.

Abe is scheduled to issue a statement to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, but he reiterated that he would not use the key wordings expressed in the previous statements issued in 1995 and 2005.

Regarding this, Murayama said Abe's words would prompt mistrust and concerns of neighboring countries.

Murayama made a landmark statement in 1995 on the 50th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, offering a heartfelt apology as prime minister for Japan's wartime atrocities to the neighboring countries.

He stressed that it was because of the Murayama Statement and the following statements inhering his spirit that avoided conflicts with China and South Korea over historical issues. He demanded Abe to follow the Murayama statement.

Monday's forum was organized by Japan's Social Democratic Party. Party leader Tadatomo Yoshida and Secretary General Seiji Mataichi also attended the gathering, making speeches to criticize the Abe administration. Endi