Japanese editorial excerpts -4-

Japan Policy & Politics, July 22, 2003

TOKYO, July 21 Kyodo

Selected editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

WHY THE SUDDEN ARREST? (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published July 19)

The metropolitan police department has arrested Kiyomi Tsujimoto, a former Social Democratic Party (SDP) member of the Lower House. Tsujimoto was criminally charged with diverting her secretaries' salaries, though in her time she briskly pursued allegations against other Diet members.

Why was she suddenly arrested now, not long before people talk about the Lower House dissolution this autumn ahead of an election? Is someone waging a political vendetta? While members of the public desire thorough scrutiny of the allegations, not a few people must be perplexed by the timing of the arrest.

Of course, if the accusations are true, Tsujimoto's criminal responsibility is grave. She is accused of fraud for registering two women as government-paid policy secretaries and receiving nearly 20 million yen from the national government, though the secretaries did little work.

Tsujimoto was not accustomed to the traditions of the Nagatacho political center, and a former secretary for SDP leader Takako Doi introduced the women to Tsujimoto. The three secretaries involved were also arrested as accomplices.

Doi cannot avoid political responsibility. The party's management of funds will also be questioned. She must squarely explain what she knows about the case.

Joji Yamamoto, a former Lower House member with Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), was also charged with fraud for misappropriating secretaries' salaries, and was sentenced to jail time. The court ruling strongly condemned him, saying he betrayed public expectations for political reform with a malicious action that could trigger political distrust.

In this age, Diet members will be arrested if they falsify figures in reports on political funds, and must be held accountable to clearly state how they spend money so as not to betray taxpayers.

Investigators must explain why they arrested Tsujimoto at this time. It is evident the arrests of Tsujimoto and Doi's former secretary before the Lower House dissolution will hit SDP hard. A magazine dug up the dirt on Tsujimoto in March 2002, eventually forcing her resignation. What have investigators been doing for a year and four months since then?

Tsujimoto has been trying to revive her political career, and she is sill popular in her local area, where a movement backing her in the next general election was gaining traction.

Although she denies any criminal intent, was it necessary to arrest her? It's highly doubtful she is hiding any evidence. She has already paid back the entire amount including interest to the national government. She has already in essence admitted to the fact she diverted her secretaries' salaries.

Other Diet members have been forced to resign in relation to the use of secretaries' salaries. However, they were not arrested. Former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, who once belonged to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was suspected of diverting some of her secretary's salary through her family company. While Tsujimoto has mostly admitted her wrongdoing to the Diet, Tanaka denied all accusations.

Arrests of Diet members have become year-round events in Nagatacho. Investigative authorities must conduct thorough and fair investigations that satisfy the general public.

(July 21)