July 30, 2024
Akahata on July 29 learned that Vice-Minister of Defense Oniki Makoto, a Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives, had distributed ice collected in Antarctica by the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s icebreaking ship “Shirase” to voters and children in his constituency.
The distribution of hard-to-find and rare items by a lawmaker to voters in his/her own electoral district is suspected of constituting an “act of donation” prohibited under Article 199, Paragraph 2 of the Public Offices Election Act.
According to Akahata, Oniki on July 21 held an event to “experience Antarctic ice” at a community center in the No. 2 constituency in Fukuoka Prefecture, introducing himself as a Dietmember and the vice defense minister.
Japanese Communist Party Dietmember Miyamoto Takeshi is a long-time supporter of research activities in the Antarctic and Arctic. As a member of the Lower House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, he has just recently visited the National Institute of Polar Research, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEXT) and is responsible for Japan’s polar research.
Miyamoto said, “The MSDF icebreaker ‘Shirase’ was built with the sole purpose of conveying research expedition teams to the South Pole. All new ship construction and repairs of Antarctic exploration vessels are funded by MEXT.”
Miyamoto said, “The ‘Antarctic Treaty’ is in place in Antarctica. No country is allowed to use Antarctica either for its national interests or for military purposes, and all research and observation results are exchanged and made freely available.”
He criticized Vice-Defense Minister Okini, saying, “I think Oniki, who distributed Antarctic ice to his local constituents, does not understand the significance of Antarctic observation.”
The distribution of hard-to-find and rare items by a lawmaker to voters in his/her own electoral district is suspected of constituting an “act of donation” prohibited under Article 199, Paragraph 2 of the Public Offices Election Act.
According to Akahata, Oniki on July 21 held an event to “experience Antarctic ice” at a community center in the No. 2 constituency in Fukuoka Prefecture, introducing himself as a Dietmember and the vice defense minister.
Japanese Communist Party Dietmember Miyamoto Takeshi is a long-time supporter of research activities in the Antarctic and Arctic. As a member of the Lower House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, he has just recently visited the National Institute of Polar Research, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEXT) and is responsible for Japan’s polar research.
Miyamoto said, “The MSDF icebreaker ‘Shirase’ was built with the sole purpose of conveying research expedition teams to the South Pole. All new ship construction and repairs of Antarctic exploration vessels are funded by MEXT.”
Miyamoto said, “The ‘Antarctic Treaty’ is in place in Antarctica. No country is allowed to use Antarctica either for its national interests or for military purposes, and all research and observation results are exchanged and made freely available.”
He criticized Vice-Defense Minister Okini, saying, “I think Oniki, who distributed Antarctic ice to his local constituents, does not understand the significance of Antarctic observation.”
