Shii hands Indonesian embassy relief money for Java quake victims

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on July 10 visited the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo to hand over to Charge d' Affaires Iwan Wiranata-Atmadja 5.8 million yen collected from throughout Japan for the relief of the victims of a massive quake that hit Java in late May.

Shii told Iwan that he received a polite letter form President Yudhoyono in reply to a message of sympathy Shii had sent just after the quake, Iwan stated, "I am grateful to the Japanese people for their great help and kindness."

Iwan also said that Indonesia needs funds to make a full recovery and technical cooperation to construct inexpensive quake-proof housing. Shii said, "The JCP will bring forward the need of international support to the Japanese government and will continue to make our own efforts for relief."

Explaining that the JCP has been attaching importance to dialogue and coexistence with other cultures, in particular with the Islamic world, and relations with Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Shii stated that the JCP will work hard to develop good relations between Japan and Indonesia.

- Akahata, July 11, 2006