LDP leader admits secret funds diversion

Akahata on April 26 reported that Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Yamasaki Taku admitted that the Foreign Ministry's undisclosed funds originally reserved for secret diplomatic activities were diverted to the Cabinet Secretariat.

This was made during his informal talks with the press on February 15 at the LDP head office.

The Liberal Democratic Party and the Koizumi Cabinet have officially denied any diversion of the secret funds.

Akahata reported that Yamasaki said, "Diplomacic activities need a certain amount of secret funds, but the Foreign Ministry should stop diverting it to the Cabinet Secretariat."

That the Foreign Ministry's secret fund has been diverted to the cabinet came to light when the Japanese Communist Party revealed Cabinet Secretariat internal documents last year. (end)