Diet must probe scandals before discussing war bills: JCP Shii

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on April 18 said that the JCP will do its utmost to block the government and the ruling parties' crooked scheme to start Diet deliberations on the three emergency bills on April 26 and railroad them through during the current Diet session.

At a press conference in the Diet Building, Shii stated that the first thing to do for the Diet being held to June 19 is to establish the facts about the scandals involving Suzuki Muneo and Kato Koichi and about the secret state funds issue.

Pointing out that the Prime Minister's Official Residence has misused people's tax money for the ruling party's interest and for politicians' private purposes under the name of "state secrets," Shii said that the prime minister is responsible for the investigation into the matter.

It is impermissible, Shii stressed, that the contingency legislation, which will give the prime minister the despotic power to conduct wars, is enforced while no effort is being made to investigate the scandals which undermine public confidence in Japan's foreign policy and expose the wrongdoings at the prime minister's official residence.

Shii said that neither the government nor the prime minister has the qualifications to submit such kind of bills to the Diet and called for a discussion. (end)