 Opposition parties call for parliamentary investigation into political interference in NHK Japanese Communist, Democratic, and Social Democratic parties have banded together to demand that parliament investigate the allegation that ruling party politicians pressured NHK to alter a TV program of a mock trial over wartime sex slavery. Diet policy commission chairs on the three opposition parties reached the agreement at a meeting in the Diet building on January 14. JCP Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji pointed out that political interference in NHK programs is in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution which guarantees the freedom of speech, expression, and press and bans censorship, as well as of the Broadcast Law banning outside intervention in broadcasting. He added that it also contradicts the government statement in August 1993 expressing apology and remorse for Japan's wartime sex slavery system. Kokuta stressed the need to find the truth about the scandal involving then deputy chief cabinet secretary and a LDP House of Representative member in the Diet session. The next ordinary Diet session will begin on January 21. (end) |