Unfair cheating

My opinion of this week(526):

Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office arrested Thursday two top officials of the Japan Green Resources Agency (J-Green) who allegedly rigged bids for forest road survey consulting contracts ordered by the government-affiliated agency in fiscal 2005 and 2006. It is just one other example of scandals caused by such public corporation. Toshikatsu Matuoka, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, have been provided a lot of contribution from this corporation in the past. The issue of politics and money are still in the darkness in many ways as far as I see it.

An intensive discussion on the transparency of political fund have been made at diet during this week. The opposition parties continued to question Minister Matuoka about huge amount of light and fuel expenses written in his political fund report. He has never explained them in detail for the current rules do not require it. Opposition fronts insisted that it is one important responsibility as a politician to explain such details to some extent in transparent manner. It seems that there is no question about such necessity.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has supported Minister Matuoka saying he is making enough explanation alright on this issue. The tactics of ruling front to avoid attack against Minister Matuoka from opposition front is to bring up the case of purchase of high value real-estate by Ichirou Ozawa, President of Democratic Party of Japan. Prime Minister Abe let one of his man ask about it at the diet session and pointed out such purchase of high value real estate by political fund may possibly end up with unfair ownership by one man.

Prime Minister Abe's and ruling fronts' tactics on this issue is very obvious.
They try to make up Matuoka's unfair practice by hitting their strong enemy Ichirou Ozawa by bringing up a kind of different accounting procedures.

The editorial of Asahi Newspaper on Wednesday criticized this stance of Prime
Minister Abe. The editorial mentioned that Ichirou Ozawa explained the details
of the purchase of this real estate. It is quite fair by itself. On the other
hand, Minister Matuoka has never disclosed any details of high amount of the
expense item. Why can he not do it ?

Before they argue whether it is good or wrong from accounting rule point of view, politicians must disclose details of account to some extent if required. It is common sense for any people including general public. It is quite natural for
us to prepare receipts for any payment when it comes to some public matters.
When it comes to politicians who spend our tax and many of such public contribution, transparency of their accounting procedures is absolutely necessary.

I just can't believe the stance of Prime Minister Abe who continue to support Minister Matuoka on this very important issue.

2007/5/26
Tadashi HAYASE