Japanese Communist Relieved Of Post

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27989, 8 June 1956, Page 6

Japanese Communist Relieved Of Post

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) TOKYO, June 6. The Japanese Communist Party tonight announced that one of its leading members, a close follower of the “Stalin line.” will be relieved of hi? l duties in absentia. The party claims that it has not been able to locate Mr Shigeo Shida, an executive of the standing party and a member of the party secretariat since January 6 this year. Mr Shida was closely associated with the policies of Stalin and the leaders of the Communist Party in Japan. The party says that it is still searching for Mr Shida. who disappeared from his home in Tokyo after telling his family that he was taking a rest because of ill-health. The Tokyo police have also expressed interest in Mr Shida’s whereabouts. Mr Shida faces charges of violating the law governing the activities of extremist organisations, and is due to stand trial this September. A leading party member told a press conference today that he did not think Mr Shida had escaped to evade the party inquiry about his conduct as a party executive

He said that Mr Shida will continue as a member of the party’s central committee, but has been relieved as an executive of the standing party and a member of the party secretariat.