October 14, 2016
The Japanese Communist Party Tokyo Assemblypersons’ Group at a plenary session on October 13 proposed a motion to establish a powerful investigative commission to reveal the whole picture of the issue regarding the opening of a contaminated new fish market. However, the formation of the ad-hoc body was rejected by the assembly’s majority, including the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties.
Meanwhile, the assembly decided to set up a new committee on the same issue. Three JCP legislators will join in the 23-member committee. The authority of this committee, however, will be far less than that of the investigative ad-hoc commission. The Local Autonomy Act delivers a mandate only to the latter to demand submission of evidence, summon witnesses, or file a criminal charge against perjured testimony.
Prior to the vote, JCP Assemblyperson Azegami Miwako took the floor and pointed out that the issue stemmed from former Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro having forced through the relocation of the Tsukiji fish market to an old Tokyo Gas factory site in Toyosu although he knew the site was contaminated with toxic substances.
She stressed, “We can never restore the public trust in the Tokyo metropolitan government if we do not correct the successive tendency to cover up the facts.”
She said, “Not only experts but a growing number of Tokyoites are calling for the establishment of an investigative commission with a strong mandate to look into the Toyosu fish market issue. I’d like to strongly call on all of you here in the assembly to sincerely listen to public demand and fulfill our responsibilities as representatives of Tokyoites.”
Past related article:
> JCP demands formation of ad-hoc committee and summoning of witnesses over contaminated Toyosu fish market issue [September 28 & October 1, 2016]
Meanwhile, the assembly decided to set up a new committee on the same issue. Three JCP legislators will join in the 23-member committee. The authority of this committee, however, will be far less than that of the investigative ad-hoc commission. The Local Autonomy Act delivers a mandate only to the latter to demand submission of evidence, summon witnesses, or file a criminal charge against perjured testimony.
Prior to the vote, JCP Assemblyperson Azegami Miwako took the floor and pointed out that the issue stemmed from former Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro having forced through the relocation of the Tsukiji fish market to an old Tokyo Gas factory site in Toyosu although he knew the site was contaminated with toxic substances.
She stressed, “We can never restore the public trust in the Tokyo metropolitan government if we do not correct the successive tendency to cover up the facts.”
She said, “Not only experts but a growing number of Tokyoites are calling for the establishment of an investigative commission with a strong mandate to look into the Toyosu fish market issue. I’d like to strongly call on all of you here in the assembly to sincerely listen to public demand and fulfill our responsibilities as representatives of Tokyoites.”
Past related article:
> JCP demands formation of ad-hoc committee and summoning of witnesses over contaminated Toyosu fish market issue [September 28 & October 1, 2016]
