JCP files libel suit against major broadcaster

Charging that the Fuji Television Network in its recently aired program defamed the Japanese Communist Party, the party on September 29 filed a suit with the Tokyo District Court, demanding that Fuji Television apologize and pay the JCP damages.

Ichida Tadayoshi, JCP Secretariat head, explained the legal action at a news conference on the same day in the Diet Building.

The program titled "Truth of 25 years of North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals," aired on September 12. The JCP claims that the TV network distorted what the JCP has done concerning the abduction issue. Using information provided by Hyomoto Tatsukichi, former JCP member and secretary to a JCP lawmaker, the program described his expulsion from the JCP as due to the abduction case.

Produced without interviewing JCP staff members concerned, the program misled the audience into believing that the JCP had been hampering the solution of the abduction case, which is totally untrue.

On September 18, the JCP requested Fuji Television to take steps to broadcast a correction of the program. Fuji Television on September 25 told the JCP that the program did not defame the JCP.

Severely criticizing Fuji Television, Ichida stated in the press conference that the station didn't mention if it examined the JCP claim or not. (end)