JCP asks other parties to cooperate to summon witnesses over Nishimatsu scandal

Japan Press Weekly

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

JCP asks other parties to cooperate to summon witnesses over Nishimatsu scandal

Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji on March 30 visited other parties and called on them to agree to hold an intensive Diet committee discussion by summoning people concerned to establish the truth about allegations of illegal political donations by the construction firm Nishimatsu.

Earlier in the day, JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi at a news conference explained the aim of the JCP proposal. He said, "The JCP expects the judicial authorities to carry out a thorough and fair investigation. However, the duty is for the Diet to unravel all the information regarding the alleged illegal donations by Nishimatsu and to make clear the Diet's political and moral responsibility."

As people who should be summoned as witnesses, Ichida mentioned three people: former Nishimatsu executive Okazaki Akifumi and two fictitious political action groups' representatives, Kazama Morio and Kanda Yukimichi. Nishimatsu created two fictitious political action groups with the aim of making hidden political donations.

Ichida pointed out, "Two fictitious political action groups' representatives were former Nishimatsu Construction's employees and they knew the whole story about the illegal donations by using the fictitious political action groups as conduits."

Citing that all parties' representatives in a TV political debate program aired on the previous day agreed to summon unsworn witness, Ichida said, "The JCP will make its utmost effort to summon unsworn witness."

- Akahata, March 31, 2009