 JCP calls for parliamentary investigation into NHK scandal At the January 25 House of Representatives plenary session, Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji demanded that the allegation of political interference in an NHK program be investigated. Kokuta is the first Dietmember to bring into Diet discussions the allegation that senior Liberal Democratic Party politicians pressured NHK to alter the program on Japan's wartime sex slavery system. Pointing out that LDP member Abe Shinzo wrote on his website, "I stated that NHK should maintain fairness and neutrality in broadcasting the program," Kokuta stressed that NHK twice altered the program contents after its officials met with Abe. The JCP lawmaker stated, "This is censorship prohibited by Article 21 of the Constitution as well as a violation of the Broadcast Law." Prime Minister Koizumi said, "NHK's investigation concluded that political pressure did not alter the TV program," adding that investigation of the scandal should be dealt with by the media organization. (end) |