Japan Press Weekly

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2009 March 4 - 10 [POLITICS]

Answering allegations of fraud is what politicians must do above anything else

Akahata editorial

Democratic Party of Japan President Ozawa Ichiro’s main secretary was arrested in connection with the allegation that Nishimatsu Construction Co. illegally donated money to his fund-management body Rikuzan Kai using the company’s two dummy groups as conduits. Ozawa denied the allegation at a news conference on March 4, but the suspicions have not been cleared to this day.

Not only Ozawa but many DPJ and LDP members of the Diet as well as many mayors have received Nishimatsu cash donations through its political action groups. These politicians are now called upon to come clean concerning suspicions involving donations to them. It is also important to take a step toward totally banning corporate donations to political parties as well as to individual politicians.

Nishimatsu cash donation to Ozawa stands out

The Political Funds Control Law prohibits individual politicians from accepting corporate donations as well as any funds from donors using false names. Ozawa’s aide was arrested on suspicion of falsifying the political funds reports in order to conceal the acceptance of money from Nishimatsu by using disguised political action circles.

The DPJ leader has insisted that there is nothing illegal involved in these donations, saying that he did not know that the two political action groups were dummies. However, the total amount of these donations from the political action groups reached 21 million yen in the four years up to 2006. Since he received such a large amount of donations, how can he convince the public of his innocence by stating, “I did not know that it was a cash donations?

The political action groups are nominally represented by former Nishimatsu executives. Although technically the two political action groups were funded by Nishimatsu employees and their family members, the company has reportedly paid the cost of the donations by adding amount spent to the bonuses of the employees involved. It is obvious that those donations from the two political action groups have actually been from Nishimatsu, and Ozawa cannot escape the allegation of violating the Political Funds Control Law.

Everyone in political circles knows that Ozawa has stood out in the amount of cash donations he collected from Nishimatsu. It is said that about one-fourth of the company’s donations have been for Ozawa. While maintaining such close relationship with the company, how can he insist that he did not know that the concerned political action groups were related to it? He must make a convincing explanation about the matter to the public before he is believed.

The “disguised” corporate donations made by Nishimatsu via the political action groups have been accepted by members of the LDP, DPJ, and Kaikaku Club, including former Finance Minister Omi Koji and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Nikai Toshihiro. They should also come clean regarding the allegations since it is politicians’ responsibility to provide clear responses to allegations against them before the judicial process starts. Ozawa should fulfill his responsibility as the leader of the largest opposition party by providing an explanation regarding the allegation.

Ban corporate donations

Politicians are required to report on donations they received from corporations and other organizations. But this is not enough. Corporations make donations to politicians for something in return. Corporations are prohibited from making cash donation to politicians because of the negative effects this would have.

In addition to “disguised” donations made through political action groups, there is no end to “backdoor” donations made to parties’ branches headed by individual politicians through party headquarters. In order to properly deal with the matter, measures should be taken to pave the way for a total ban on corporate donations.