Opposition parties demand government stop using secret funds

The four opposition parties on April 18 made representations to Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro and Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda Yasuo calling for the use of secret state funds to be suspended.

A lot of controversy have been caused by the revelation of the "secret funds," when the JCP produced internal cabinet documents on April 12. Several Diet members have admitted receiving money from the funds, and some Liberal Democrats have even called for the allegation to be investigated.

In a letter to the government, the Japanese Communist Party, the Democratic Party of Japan, the Liberal Party, and the Social Democratic Party pointed out that the government has not shown clearly how the secret funds have been used.

The opposition parties demand that the government stop using the funds until a through investigation is completed and that a fair use of the funds is ensured. (end)