Ozawa defends himself against funds report falsification allegations

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TOKYO, Dec. 11 Kyodo -
Democratic Party of Japan bigwig Ichiro Ozawa on Saturday defended himself in
the face of allegations that he played a part in the alleged falsification of
mandatory political funds reports to the government by his funds management
body.
''There is nothing at all in my attitude and life as a politician about which I
have to feel remorseful,'' Ozawa told a meeting of DPJ politicians in the city
of Echizen, Fukui Prefecture.
Ozawa made the remarks two days before the DPJ leadership is to get its
executives to discuss whether it would be appropriate to summon him to the
House of Representatives' panel on political ethics to have him answer
legislators' questions on the alleged false funds reporting.
''I want to do my utmost to make the policies of the Democratic Party of Japan
successful by joining hands with many colleagues, even though I am now a
rank-and-file member,'' Ozawa said, without commenting on the upcoming DPJ
leadership meeting.
He chided the government of Prime Minister Naoto Kan for causing the party to
disappoint voters, saying, ''We are facing claims from our supporters that the
light of just causes the DPJ has held up has been dimmed.''
''The significance of a change of power will be lost if our party remains
motionless after colliding with reality,'' he said, adding, ''We have to
transform the party into one capable of living up to people's expectations.''
As for the money scandal itself, and the Sept. 14 decision by the Tokyo No. 5
Committee for the Inquest of Prosecutors that he merits prosecution over the
alleged falsification, he only said, ''I am sorry for causing concern and
problems as a result of my personal affairs.''
Meanwhile, the ruling party's current No. 2 man reiterated his hope for a
decision to summon Ozawa to the Diet over the scandal.
''If he cannot make a judgment by himself, the party must express its will'' on
how to deal with Ozawa at a meeting of party executives on Monday, DPJ
Secretary General Katsuya Okada told reporters in Yamaguchi city.
The question is whether to ask Ozawa, a former DPJ chief, to appear at the
lower house ethics panel to explain alleged false funds reporting by his
political body. But DPJ lawmakers close to Ozawa have objected to a plan to
have him testify.
It remains uncertain whether Okada, who has been entrusted by Kan to deal with
the scandal, will be able to win enough support from other DPJ executives to
pave the way for Ozawa's appearance before the ethics panel.
''We need to live up to people's expectations even if it involves risks,''
Okada said, referring to the Ozawa camp's protests.
Ozawa, who is facing mandatory indictment over the alleged falsification, has
refused to appear before the ethics panel, arguing he will say what he needs to
say in court.
The two major opposition parties, the Liberal Democratic Party and the New
Komeito party, agreed Friday to have a vote on whether to demand that Ozawa
explain the allegations against him before the panel.
==Kyodo
2010-12-11 23:45:37