Unjustifiably arrested JCP assembly member polls the highest number of votes cast

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Unjustifiably arrested JCP assembly member polls the highest number of votes cast

Oishi Tadaaki, former Japanese Communist Party assembly member of Bungo Takada City in Oita Prefecture in Kyushu, secured his tenth term in the assembly election on February 18 after receiving the highest number of votes cast.

Immediately after the previous election of April 2003, Oishi was arrested for distributing handbills allegedly in violation of the Public Officers Election Law. The district court ruled him guilty and pronounced disfranchisement of three years and a fine of 150,000 yen. He appealed to a high court, where the case is pending.

Angered by his arrest, many citizens began supporting him, saying, "Why did the police arrest him for just distributing handbills, while leaving vote-buying and unethical wining and dining by others untouched?" A former community hall chief stated, "No one but Oishi is fighting against the cold-hearted politics toward the elderly."

Oishi took to the streets 470 times during the one-week election period and received 300 more votes than in the previous election. Declaring victory, Oishi stated, "Next, I'll win the suit and work harder for the townspeople."
- Akahata, February 20, 2007