LDP and DPJ must come clean about acceptance of illegal donations ? JCP Chair Shii

Japan Press Weekly

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

LDP and DPJ must come clean about acceptance of illegal donations -- JCP Chair Shii

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo stated the JCP's view regarding the recent revelation of illegal political donations from Nishimatsu Construction Co. at a news conference on March 12. Shii's remarks are as below:

The issue of bribery

The issue of illegal donations allegedly made by Nishimatsu Construction Co. to politicians is arousing anger toward and distrust in politics among the public. The issue involved is the fact that 478 million yen was given to many Liberal Democratic Party and Democratic Party members of the Diet during a period of about 10 years by Nishimatsu using two dummy groups as their conduits, and that Nishimatsu has been awarded contracts amounting to 100 billion yen for public works projects each year. This clearly reveals how taxpayers' money has been funneled to politicians.

Why did the construction firm conceal its name when it made cash donations to politicians? The constructor may have sought to hide the fact that it was being awarded contracts for public works projects in return for its donations. These are questions that need answers.

Explanations that do not convince the public

Suspicions of illegal donations are focused on Mr. Ozawa Ichiro (Democratic Party president) and Mr. Nikai Toshihiro (Minister of Economic, Trade and Industry).

During the three years up to 2006, at least 33 million yen was allegedly given to Mr. Ozawa and 8.68 million yen (in payments for fundraising-party tickets) to Mr. Nikai through two dummy groups created by Nishimatsu.

The prosecutors arrested Mr. Ozawa's chief secretary on suspicion that Mr. Ozawa may have accepted Nishimatsu money disguised as donations from political action groups and that Mr. Ozawa's chief secretary may have been aware that the money flow was disguised or that he may have taken a direct part in this fraud. In a similar case, Mr. Nikai is suspected of having accepted donations from Nishimatsu by similarly disguising them as political donations from political action groups.

In the face of these allegations, both politicians have made excuses exactly the same manner. Mr. Ozawa at a news conference stated, "I have no idea (where the money originated)." He also said, "I won't seek to look into itt."

Responding questions in the Diet, Nikai said, "I don't know." He also said, "I will refrain from examining it."

Given the fact that they accepted 330 million yen and 8.68 million yen respectively, they must not be allowed to get away with their illegal act just by stating, "I have no idea."

Recent opinion polls show clearly that the public does not accept such an excuse.

The Akahata Sunday Edition on March 15 reported on the testimonies of former Nishimatsu executives. They stated:

"I can't believe that Mr. Ozawa and Mr. Nikai knew nothing about the donations from Nishimatsu."

"Mr. Nikai has had a strong influence on sea port, airport, and marine construction projects, and we were awarded contracts for airport construction thanks to the constructors' cozy relations with him."

"We were afraid of being obstructed by Mr. Ozawa in the Tohoku (Northeast Japanese) region, especially in Iwate Prefecture. We wanted to be awarded contracts for the Isawa Dam construction projects."

These testimonies indicate the existence of cozy relations between construction companies and politicians over public works projects.

Full disclosure needed

Both Mr. Ozawa and Mr. Nikai are obliged to candidly respond to the allegations of their wrongdoing. It is also grave that the LDP and DPJ have no intension of making any effort to investigate the matter.

The DPJ says that it believes Ozawa's explanation and calls for party unity. No one in the DPJ stated the need to investigate the allegations. Prime Minister Aso Taro said that he would not comment on an individual matter, describing it as if the issue does not concern him even though it involves the minister he nominated. Such an irresponsible attitude should not be permitted.

We strongly demand that the LDP and DPJ take steps to investigate the allegations. There are many ways they can do so. The DPJ actually called for political donations from public works contractors to be banned in its election platform and submitted a bill to the Diet to this effect. It should try to investigate the allegation that its leader disregarded the party platform. We strongly assert that they fail to make such efforts, the two-largest parties will be recognized as hiding allegations.

The allegations are expanding from Nishimatsu to cover the entire construction industry. The JCP will continue to make effort to fully disclose the matter.

- Akahata, March 13, 2009