Suzuki's hydra-headed scandals

The Daily Yomiuri, Asia News Network, Tokyo

"This does not mean that suspicions have been cleared."

This expression is routinely used by the opposition bloc after the testimony of a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmaker as a sworn witness at a Diet committee. This time, however, even LDP Secretary General Taku Yamasaki made this kind of remark.

Former Hokkaido and Okinawa development agencies director general Muneo Suzuki testified under oath Monday at the House of Representatives Budget Committee.

Suzuki's testimony at the committee was so dominated by "excuses" that even his own party now hesitates to protect him.

The government and ruling as well as opposition parties should not relent in their efforts to pursue suspicions over Suzuki in order to eliminate public distrust in national politics.

Questions from committee members during his testimony addressed a number of issues: Suzuki's involvement in the bidding process for government assistance projects on the Russian-held northern islands; the precise status of his secretary, who is a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Suzuki's influence on the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in Kenya; and his involvement in the issuance of a visa to a Russian diplomat.

He has been called a "department store of scandals," and the large number of issues raised during the testimony suggests that this expression is not a great exaggeration.

Not to be overlooked in all this is the revelation of a Foreign Ministry in-house document containing Suzuki's remarks on negotiations over the Russian-held islands.

The document quotes Suzuki as telling a ranking Foreign Ministry official in 1995, while discussing the construction of clinic buildings in the northern territories: "Japan is pursuing return of the territories only as a matter of honor, and the islands will not serve national interests even if they are returned. I believe we should stop demanding the return of the islands, and promote economic exchanges with the four islands instead."

The existence of this document has been confirmed by the Foreign Ministry. This is a very serious issue.

This remark in the document contradicts Suzuki's accounts of his involvement in the bidding process for assistance projects in the northern territories. Suzuki has been saying that his involvement "was meant to support the local movement for return of the territory." Furthermore, the remark shows that he exerted his influence over recent Japanese diplomacy with Russia through the personal connections that he has fostered inside the ministry.

This may work against national interests. The government should thoroughly investigate Suzuki's involvement in negotiations with Russia over return of the territory.

Suzuki has an obligation to give sincere answers to the litany of suspicions that were touched upon during the testimony. He also has political and moral responsibilities.

The opposition bloc is slated to submit a resolution to the Diet to advise Suzuki to resign his seat in the Diet. It is also studying his Monday testimony in preparation for filing a criminal complaint of perjury.

The LDP is being tested on its ability to clean itself up. The soil in which the Suzuki scandals have their roots is the so- called "mediation politics" by which politicians lobby government ministries and agencies for the benefit of their supporters and local areas.

Though there are various levels and degrees, interference of politicians with government officials can be seen at many ministries and agencies. To prevent the recurrence of such scandals, it is indispensable to carry out structural reforms on relations between politicians and government officials.

Along with investigating the suspicions that envelop Suzuki, new rules for relations between politicians and government officials should be established without delay.