Narita airport outside Tokyo, is more than a decade old. It began at the height of the Vietnam war. It is still going on.
militants of the Fourth International and backed by the Farmers League postponed the opening scheduled for 2 April. The Fukuda Government was thrown inte crisis. Our Tokyo correspondent sent in this report: •Under a spreading clear blue sky, a warm spring breeze B geally blowing across the grees elk or the Horuso Diait There isn't even a shadow of supposed to fly over this plain March opening for which widely: the Fukada Government tried so violently and forcefully, by evicting farmers from the land they had lives and worked on for generations and hy polluting this rich agricultural plain with noise and exhaust fumes. was finally smushed.
"The ugly dream of the people im power is indeed a fallure. The just struggle of the mass of people has won a great victory. are observing!"
APPEAL These were the opening para graphs from the Appeal Japanese People ssued by the ese Revolutionary Communist Leagne — JapanTHE STRUGGLE to prevent the construction of | Seinen Kyoto (the youth organ- the medis, our On 26 March a sensational protest initiated by the / ese Section of the Foarth International). Its euphoria reflects the most important victory in the 12-yeur history of the Sunrizuka struggle.
The struggle has continued for so long because the Sanrizuka farmers and residents mave reluseo то скрошатс и successive governments.
SOLIDARITY Most of these farmers tended the strugale detached them TOM BUT IL DOULS They united instead with the only bolitical orrunisatioms who were prepured to help them in action. These were the far left groups Of these the most consistent work was done by the JRC.. This is now commonly acknowledged in Japan.
The commendo-type operstion which led to the occupalion of the control tower and the destruction of its equipment spearheaded by the militants of isation of the JRCI).
Twas an extraordiEs lear. fully supported by the United Anti-Airpon League, The organisation backed by farmers HIE TACA.
CAMPAIGN d that this was so isolate arnon. l was only made pussihle because of a huge rally 20,000 workers. attentice by farmers and students in a nearhy bark which attracied the attention of the 14,00 riot The latter had been mobilised matlonally to ensure thai the airport opening was not postSHICH The JRCL has been attacked widely in the Japanese press o he supporters of the ruling and some have called for it to be outlawed.
they reject any form of terrorism as a method of struggle Their aim was to stop the opening and they succeeded.
MILITANCY They stated: The milifants who occupied the control room acted under clear instructions: 1. Not to injure any workers In the tower. 1. Not to take hostages under any circumsiances. Despite the false accusations in mainco tarm to the revol After its defeat an emercenc cabinet meeting considered the if asserted that the actions were an outrageous act of violence by estremists which has nothing to do with opposlion to the simort by some This attempt to sepurate the evolutionaries was dealt an immediate Insegawa Take, a 70yeur old leader of the Anti-Air port ague's Women's Bri replied: been struggling together for so long. No matter what you read in the papers you can't sepurule the farmers from their supporten Isuki, the Chairerson of the United Anti-Air port League hacked her sign ABANDONED "We'll struggle to have the airport abandoned utilising all sorts of tactics from now on. Peuce WIRE NOT DE TESTORCUSE Nurita until the governmen abalishes the airport and reurns the land to the furmers."
The two large workers parties Japan had differing re actions to the crisis.
The Socialist Party was surprisingly mild. They were wised to "illegal setions" but criticised the government constructing the airport without the support of the people.
The Communist Party at on stage was extremely active in the Sunrizuka strugele Now they are arging the Government to take a determined attrade aguinst the 'violent, gangster groups.
SECTARIAN But the CP remains opposed to the introduction of emerPERCY HASUS The Japanese farleft (with the exception of the JRCI) often conveys the impression of warring bands of samiral.
The Chukaku und the Kocurhero are the two other importand far left groups. For over a decade they have now been en gaged in physical attacks on cuch other.
sectarian wurfare known as "achigehu. The JHEL has consistenily ooposed this lunacy and urgued for a united front soninst the com mon coemy, but without much Murch victory will allow it to exerl more influence rummins to he seen.
PICKETS
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