Is Defense Agency's organized crime no business of prime minister? -- Akahata editorial, June 25 (excerpts)

In the June 24 House of Representatives Special Committee intensive discussion about the Defense Agency's list-making scandal, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro, asked about the government responsibility, only said that the government will try to prevent any confusion or social unrest from taking place.

The Defense Agency made an investigation report of the matter but denied its existence in the Diet. Asked about the agency's betrayal of the Diet's confidence in the government, Prime Minister Koizumi uttered no word of reflection.

The list-making of information seekers' personal information was an organizational crime of the Defense Agency. Staff of information disclosure sections of Ground, Maritime, and Air Defense-Forces were investigation specialists who had been engaged in spying on the people.

Prime Minister Koizumi, who is most responsible for the matter as the chief administrative officer as well as the SDF chief commander, should immediately investigate into the matter, establish the facts, and make them known to the public.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda Yasuo received the Defense Agency's investigation report one day before the agency falsely stated in the Diet that there was no such report. Apparently, the Prime Minister's Official Residence and the ruling parties together concealed the Defense Agency's crime and deceived the Diet.

Defense Agency Director General Nakatani Gen admitted his responsibility for covering up the report, but Prime Minister Koizumi refused to dismiss him.

The Prime Minister must make all the facts public and fulfill his public responsibility.

The Defense Agency has considered the people as enemies and made a list of their personal information. Far from reflecting on this, the prime minister has tried to cover up the scandal. If the contingency bills, which will legally deprive the people of their freedom and rights, are enacted, the situation will become even more dangerous.

The Diet should call the persons who were directly involved in the organizational crime to the special committee intensive discussion to make available all the facts. (end)