Ozawa again questioned

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Ozawa again questioned

Tokyo prosecutors on January 31 again questioned Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ozawa Ichiro over his involvement in the alleged funding scandal over a land purchase.

This shows that investigators, rather than being convinced by his explanation in the first questioning, have increased doubts.

On February 1, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi stated that the DPJ must exert a “self-cleansing ability” to urge its secretary general to come clean about his allegation.

Even within the DPJ, the call for “self-cleansing” is increasing. Asked by reporters to comment on this, Ichida said, “It’s too late. The general public has always wanted the DPJ to do so, but they seem unwilling to make the attempt.”

Land and Transport Minister Maehara Seiji the other day mentioned, “If a new development (in the investigation) emerges, we will take remedial actions.” Edano Yukio, ex-DPJ Policy Research Committee chair, commented, “If Ozawa fails to win public understanding to a certain extent, he may have to take action.”

Ichida stated, “No matter if persons involved will be indicted or not, Ozawa himself must fulfill his political and moral responsibilities to make a full disclosure in the Diet.”

Prime Minister Hatoyama during the Lower House plenary session on February 1 stated he would wait and see how the investigation goes. Ichida criticized Hatoyama’s attitude for refusing to take DPJ self-cleansing actions and leaving everything to judicial authorities to prove.

- Akahata, February 2, 2010