Put an end to 'money power politics' now: JCP Shii

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Put an end to 'money power politics' now: JCP Shii

In the keynote report to the Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee meeting on March 5, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo spoke about the task of eliminating plutocracy which is the source of political corruption as well as the JCP position on the current affairs involving alleged illegal donations by Nishimatsu Construction.

Shii criticized Democratic Party of Japan President Ozawa Ichiro for refusing to provide accountability for the suspicions that may implicate him and for attacking the prosecutors without presenting any rationale behind such attacks.

He also said, "It is very serious that the opposition DPJ is trying to do everything to defend Ozawa and that the opposition Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party (PNP) are siding with the DPJ. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is also to blame for its refusal to criticize the affair."

Shii went on to say:

"In stark contrast, the JCP has been rigorous in demanding that Mr. Ozawa and the Democratic Party make themselves accountable for everything concerning the allegations. If the DPJ has no willingness to do so, the Diet should be called upon to take up a thorough investigation into the scandal."

It is suspected that Nishimatsu cash donations were made not only to Ozawa but also to many LDP, DPJ, and PNP Dietmembers. "All the politicians concerned and their parties must come clean about their involvement in this affair and exert their self-cleansing ability," Shii stressed.

The root cause of this scandal is the fact that corporations are donating money in order to influence politics.

The urgent task now is to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged illegal cash donations to establish the truth. It is also urgent to impose a blanket ban on corporate political donations and abolish the state subsidy system for political parties.

The JCP is the only political party to receive neither state subsidies to political parties nor corporate or organizational donations. The JCP is also the only party that financially depends on donations from individual persons.

This is why the JCP can criticize the large corporations' misconduct and take the lead in the mass campaign to eliminate money-driven political corruption.

- Akahata, March 6, 2009