JCP Shii comments on dismissing Foreign Minister Tanaka

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro on January 30 suddenly dismissed Foreign Minister Tanaka Makiko and Vice Foreign Minister Nogami Yoshiji over the ministry step of banning the entry of NGO groups into an international conference. On the same day, House of Representatives Diet Steering Committee chair Suzuki Muneo resigned his post.

Asked by the press to comment on these dismissals, Japanese Communist Party chair Shii Kazuo said, "The problem is that Suzuki put unjustifiable pressure on the Foreign Ministry. Therefore, it is quite natural for Suzuki to resign and for vice foreign minister Nogami to be dismissed."

As regards the question of NGO attendance at the Afghan assistance conference, Shii stated that Foreign Minister Tanaka made efforts to allow them to take part in the international conference.

"It is wrong for Prime Minister Koizumi to dismiss the foreign minister by judging as if both were to blame. Such a way amounts to leaving the matter unsettled forever," Shii said. (end)

Why Koizumi supports key LDP figure? -- Akahata editorial on January 30 on 'exclusion of NGO' (excerpts) (r0130-2)

Unprecedented parliamentary controversy is taking place between the minister and vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The battle was triggered off by a foreign ministry decision that some NOGs be excluded from the recent International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan in Tokyo, using the group's critical comment on the government as a pretext. [Suzuki is also the LDP overseas economic cooperation committee chair.-ed.]

The point at issue is an intervention in the matter of the Foreign Ministry by Suzuki Muneo (Liberal Democratic Party), House of Representatives Rules and Administration Committee chair.

However, what the government submitted to the Diet as a 'unified view' was a mere repetition that it will make effort to clarify the fact, a view very short of settling the matter.

Ignoring opposition parties' protests, the ruling parties bulldozed through the draft second supplementary budget through the Lower House plenary session and to draw the curtains on the controversy.

The ministry's Africa-Middle East Division director general testified at the Lower House Budget Committee meeting on January 28 that Suzuki has intervened in the foreign ministry, and supported what Tanaka said.

An NGO representative who was once refused entry to the international conference repeated at press conferences remarks acknowledging Suzuki's interference in this issue. There is enough evidence that LDP Suzuki has meddled in the affair.

What Suzuki told the Diet was a grave lie that seriously gave damage to international trust in Japan's diplomatic efforts. Such arbitrary remarks should never remain unchecked in the parliament. Also, any attempt of a mere LDP politician to monopolize Japan's diplomacy should not be allowed.

Astonishingly, Prime Minister Koizumi was a bystander during the whole process, saying, "Don't fuss over such a tiny thing."

True, the course of events typically indicates the true picture of LDP politics; influential LDP Dietmembers are rushing to gain concessions at every ministry to get tax payers money into their pockets.

How can Koizumi continue to talk about 'reforming Japan' while making no check on influential Dietmembers enjoying their profit-making that gives such serious disadvantage to Japan's diplomatic efforts. This illustrates the fact that the Koizumi Cabinet in its essence can never be free from stereotyped LDP politics (for all his 'anti-LDP posture'). (end)