Opposition parties demand that Fukuda and Nakatani resign

The four opposition parties agreed to jointly demand the resignation of two membners of the Koizumi Cabinet: Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda Yasuo, who suggested that Japan's Three Non-nuclear Principles might be reviewed, and Defense Agency Director General Nakatani Gen, whose agency made a list of personal data of individuals who sought the agency's information under the information disclosure act.

Secretary generals of the Japanese Communist Party, Democratic Party of Japan, the Liberal Party, and the Social Democratic Party held a meeting on June 4 and agreed that Fukuda's remarks run counter to the national policy and that Nakatani is responsible for his agency's systematic compilation of personal information.

They agreed to jointly demand that the House of Representatives Special Committee on Contingency Legislation meeting be held to discuss the Fukuda and Nakatani question with Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro attending.

If the government and the ruling parties refuse this, the opposition parties will "take tougher policies at the Diet steering."

They also agreed to oppose the extension of the current Diet session.

Cabinet ministers are defending Fukuda, saying that he has no intention to get the government policy changed.

A new fact has been confirmed in connection with the Defense Agency scandal; the officer concerned in the Maritime Staff Office handed the list in question to the agency's investigation and information sections as part of his duties although he was aware that it was an illegal act. (end)