JCP calls for corporate scandals to be unraveled in parliament

The Japanese Communist Party has demanded that corporate frauds, which have recently been revealed one after another, and the serious downturn in Japan's economy be examined in parliament even during the summer recess.

At a news conference on September 5, JCP Diet Policy Committee Chair Kokuta Keiji said that parliamentary committees should deal with the Tokyo Electric Power Company's cover-up of nuclear power plant accidents, Mitsui & Co.'s under-the-counter payments to foreign officials, and Nippon Meat Packers' false labelling of foreign beef as domestic.

Referring to the recently revealed cover-ups of accidents at TEPCO nuclear power stations as "the worst case ever and a grave breach of public trust," Kokuta called for all related documents to be made public. He also demanded that TEPCO persons concerned be subpoenaed to testify in parliament as unsworn witnesses.

Also concerning the corporate scandals, Kokuta said that the Diet should call corporate officials concerned to appear before Diet committees as unsworn witnesses. "The resignation of top corporate executives must not be used to finish the scandals," he said.

Sasaki Kensho, JCP House of Representatives member, also at the news conference, pointed out that the Koizumi Cabinet's economic policy is now a bottle-neck, adding that a loss of public confidence in the government's economic policy is a major factor for falling share prices. He emphasized the need for the government to "change its way of thinking to one of giving priority to improving living conditions." (end)