My opinion of this weeki554jF
Is the separation of power working?
Opposition DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan), gave up a political weapon
decided on November 30 not to summon Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga
as a sworn witness before the Upper House on Monday,December 3. While
it has been a Diet custom to call sworn witnesses only with unanimous
consent of committee members, DPJ officials pushed through a vote
in the Financial Affairs Committee after ruling coalition members left
the committee room for their strong opposition to summon Fukushiro
Nukaga.
All opposition fronts including Communist Party of Japan made an
affirmative vote to summon Nukaga, but Communist Party changed their
mind later on saying it was their mistake in making an affirmative vote.
They insisted that the summon of diet members under sworn witnesses
should be made only when unanimous vote by all members of the
committee exists. The party brought up the matter with ruling fronts
to Upper House President Satuki Eda to arbitrate the issue.
Upper House President Satsuki Eda met with Upper House officials from
both the ruling coalition and opposition bloc and asked the two sides
to seek a "harmonious resolution". The circumstance obliged DPJ to
accept the word of President Satsuki Eda who comes from their party and
was voted by all opposition fronts in August when he was elected to the
position.
There was another reason why DPJ gave up the summon of Fukushiro Nukaga.
The summon session at the committee is meaningful only when another key
person , former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya present the
committee at the same time. The summon of Moriya is not possible
anymore for the Upper House committee for Takemasa Moriya was arrested
by Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office on Thursday a day after
the Upper House committee voted the resolution.
Some people must have some primitive but basic question why the Upper
House Committee which is supposed to be the most powerful organ of the
nation cannot summon Takemasa Moriya to the diet for such important
purpose although he was kept in custody. But any law making body such
as diet as well as any top administrative body such as cabinet cannot
touch any of actions made by judiciary body such as prosecutors office
although there exists some exceptional cases.
People watched TV news some hundreds of Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's
officers walked into the main office of Self Defense Ministry to find
out evidences of accepting bribery by Takemasa Moriya, No.2 man in such
huge and key administrative body such as Self Defense Ministry. It is
a kind of extraordinary view by itself. Why do Prosecutors have such
a strong power?
As a result of landslide victory of DPJ at the last Upper House election
in July, the party has tried to exercise the full range of administrative
investigating rights to get a number of information on what are going
on at various administrative offices including Self Defense Ministry.
They have got some, of course, but have not fully attained their major
purpose as a matter of fact. Many of those admistrative offices
turned down to submit some facts for they say that some must be kept
secret for national interests. Although they request those admistrative
bodies to submits various information, they can never walk into their
office just like prosecutors to find out necessary information. Why is
this ?
Yes, that is what and how the total system of the nation is settled by
the constitution of Japan. That is the principle of separation of the
power of the national system.
The democracy was introduced in this country after the world war II
leaning from advanced countries in Europe and US. The separation of
power is one the most important principle among any other principle to
realize democratic system in this country.
Does this principle really work in this country right at the moment ?
How many people can remember this principle when they saw hundreds
officers walking into the office of Self Defense Ministry ?
It was not an extraordinary or an unusual scene at all. It is one of
a good evidence that the principle of separation of power works
fine in this nation.
2007/12/1
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(555):
A big question about US diplomacy with North Korea
President Bush announced that his administration would continue to take
strong attitude toward Iran regardless the report disclosed by CIA saying
Iran had stopped developing nuclear bomb several years ago. On the other
hand, Bush took an entirely different approach to North Korea, another
"axis of evil" country in along with Iran and Iraq.
Bush sent his personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on December
1, urging fully disclose his nuclear program by December 31. As to Iran,
Bush continues to take a very strong stance showing possible military
action as he did on Iraq even after such CIA's report. As to North Korea,
Bush took such a soft approach by sending his personal letter starting the
word "Dear Chairman Kim Jong-ol".
Why is this? Why does there exist such big difference in approach concerned
with the same "axis of evil" countries? As to North Korea, there surely
exists the process of six countries talks. Bush's approach may be justified
in this respect. But North Korea contains another serious human right issue
which is another key traditional diplomatic theme for US. It seems Bush
administration and Clinton Administration have not paid any serious concerns
on North Korea as far as this matter is concerned. One typical example of
infringement of human right is the abduction case for Japanese. How much
attention did US Government pay on such human right issue so far?
While President Bush mention some concerns about abduction cases about Japan
which is very important allied country for US, he does not really seem to pay
pay much attention on this issue as a matter of fact. It is obvious that he
did not mention any word on this issue in his recent personal letter. It is
very possible that US will drop out North Korea from the list of terrorism-
supporting states if Kim Jong-il fully accepted Bush's request at this time.
Japan will get a big blow if this would happen especially for the solution of
abduction problem.
I am not talking only about whether or not Bush's personal letter is good or
bad for Japanese diplomacy at this time, but I would like to point out a
primitive but very basic question why US diplomatic approaches are so
different even with same "axis of evil" countries. They are very strong
against Iran and Iraq,middle east countries. They are very soft against North
Korea, such a small and very weak country. Why is this? Is US stance very soft
because North Korea is a small and weak country? I am afraid that I don't
think so.
The answer is obvious. It's a question of conflict of interest. North Korea
is a country which has no interests, no economical advantages for US. Iran
and Iraq are different. They are big oil production countries which are
serious concerns and interest for US. US must keep a major diplomatic power
in the middle east in any respects. Nuclear weapons are serious concerns
for any countries including US but US must keep right and interest on oil
in this area which is their most important diplomatic theme as a matter of
fact.
Bush Republican administration will probably be replaced by Democratic Party
in next year. Japan must keep an eye on what will happen in US diplomacy on
North Korea. There may be big change about the allied relation between two
countries once there were big change of US diplomacy. Fukuda cabinet and
ruling coalition are now paying utmost attention to pass the new anti-terrorism
bill at the diet from the importance of allied relation with US. But that's
not the whole story obviously. They must pay more attention on what will
happen in the change of US diplomacy with North Korea and other "axis of evil"
countries.
Foreign Affairs Committee of House of Representative have passed the bill
recently asking US not to drop out North Korea from the list of terrorism-
supporting states in their direct negotiation with North Korea. The bill
was supported by all parties except Communist Party of Japan. It is a landmark
move by Japanese diet.
Japan must pay the utmost attention on what will happen to US diplomacy from
now on in order not to make any mistakes for the interest of this country.
2007/12/8
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(556)
Japanese political awareness is too low
The House of Representative voted to extend the diet session which ends on
December 15th until January 15th next year. This is to pass the new
antiterrorism law in question with 2/3 of vote at the House of
Representative although the House of Council will vote down the bill or do
not make any decision on it.
If the House of Representative voted again the bill that way, it is very possible
that opposition fronts would submit censure resolution against Prime Minister
Fukuda. The resolution would be voted by opposition parties. According to
recent observation by several news sources, Prime Minister Fukuda would
neglect such vote at the House of Council. He seems to believe that there is
no problem with it for constitution of Japan justifies such procedure.
Further more, Fukuda may say that this is the very important time of the year
to prepare the budget for next fiscal year 2008. They are not in a position to
dissolve the House of Representative at this time for they are responsible to
work on the budget for next year which is important for the life of Japanese
people. Dissolving diet will come after all such important issues, Fukuda
believes.
One of the background for such strong attitude of Prime Minister Fukuda is
that his cabinet still maintains rather high popular vote such as 40%
although the rate may drop to some extent due to recent scandals at Self
Defense Ministry.
Another serious issue for Fukuda Cabinet happened just a few day ago. It was
disclosed that mysterious pension records could not be clarified by the end of
fiscal year 2007. When this issue came up in May, The then Prime Minister Abe
promised that his cabinet would clarify all mysterious pension records by the
end of fiscal year 2007. It was obviously one of a political promise, i.e..
manifesto which was kept saying during the past House of Council election in
July.
Questioned by news reporters in this issue, Fukuda said:"Oh, is that surely
one of political promise we set for the election? " He really did not
understand that important question. The reaction of Youichi Masuzoe, Welfare
and Labor Minister, and Nobutaka Machimura, Secretary of Fukuda Cabinet on
this issue were also very sloppy as well as Prime minister. Machimura said
what had been said by Abe cabinet was just a kind of short explanation made
during the election campaign.
It is natural for opposition parties to attack ruling fronts on many of such
important political issues as mysterious pension records, scandals at Self
Defense Ministry and so on in along with new anti terrorism bill. The extended
time at the diet will not long enough to discuss the bill itself. The ruling
fronts should fully be responsible for it but they would railroad the bill
through the Lower House resolution. They would neglect a censure resolution
by the House of Council.
This should never happen in Japanese politics in next few months. In order to
stop chaos in Japanese politics, it is now the time for Japanese people to say
no to what Fukuda cabinet is trying to do from now on.
Prime Minister Fukuda would change his mind if he saw a kind of very low
popular vote against what his cabinet is doing at this time. Now is the time
that the level of political awareness of Japanese people is strictly
questioned. They should say yes or no very strongly on what Fukuda cabinet is
doing right now.
2007/12/15
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(557):
The meaning of counter offer by DPJ against the new anti-terrorism bill
DPJ(Democratic Party of Japan) had at one time decided to put off presenting
a counter proposal against the new anti-terrorism bill provided by ruling
front. DPJ seemed to think that the time was ripe to present a counter
proposal that could serve as a basis for debate at the diet. They had
proposed a bill which is a counter proposal against the new oil supply bill
which ruling front try to pass the bill at lower house by using 2/3 vote
rule of constitution when the bill was rejected at upper house.
Ozawa told reporters on Friday: "This is not simply a matter of providing fuel
to navy ships. Our bill has a certain level of content to it. We hope
discussions are held on it as soon as possible."
There may be two reasons why DPJ has hesitated to submit a counter proposal
bill against the new anti-terrorism bill. The one reason is that there exists
quite a difference in opinion in DPJ against the new bill proposed by ruling
front. Some law makers of the party may agree with the bill itself. There are
some wide difference in opinion concerning the article 9 of constitution,
right of collective self-defense and so on in the party. So it is a kind of
difficult for the party to prepare a draft bill which is supported by all
members of the party.
Ruling parties have attacked DPJ for it saying the party lacks the integrated
view on such very important issue as national self-defense. That criticism is
not right at all.
It is fine for any political parties to have various opinions concerning any
matters including self-defense and diplomatic issues. For example, this is
true with Democratic Party and Republican Party in US. Any members of both
parties may vote to some bill against their unified party's decision. In many
cases, parties allow their lawmakers whether to support or vote against the
bills. But once the decision is made at the diet, they follow to it. This is
exactly what is described as a democratic process.
DPJ is criticized by ruling front and even mass media from time to time for
that reason. But such criticism is entirely inappropriate from my point of
view. It is fine for the party to submit a counter bill regardless there may
exists some objection against it inside of the party.
Second reason why DPJ has hesitated to submit a counter proposal bill against
the new anti-terrorism bill is that they might have been afraid to lose
support from another opposition parties such as Communist Party of Japan and
Social Democratic Party. It is obvious that DPJ's new bill contains several
proposals which would not be accepted at all by two opposition parties.
But DPJ should not hesitate to present their proposal to the diet at this time
for that reason. The time will come when DPJ will work together with LDP
(Liberal Democratic Party of Japan) to proceed their diplomatic and self-
defense policies once they own power in politics. Two major parties are
closer together as far as self-defense and diplomatic issues rather than with
minor parties such as Communist and Social Democratic Party.
It is now the time for DPJ to work together with other opposition parties to
reject the new anti-terrorism bill. But time will surely come later when they
cannot work with those parties concerning such basic issues as the change of
article 9 of constitution and so on.
The submission of counter bill by DPJ is very meaningful for Japanese politics
from various points of views. That opens new era for Japanese politics.
2007/12/22
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(558)
Improvement of network infrastructure
According to the latest news, ATMs of most major banks and Japan Post Bank
will be opened during three new year days. It is a good improvement of service
for ATMs of most major banks were closed at new year days until last year.
There were a lot of criticism against such bad bank service in the past.
In relation to the use of ATM, there is one other thing to be improved
concerning bank service. Fee of transfer money is a kind of high even
after computer network system has developed in banking office works. It
was especially true until financial deregulation of bank was not realized.
Charges for money transfer were high and same all through any banks. Some
improvement has been made on service charges since financial deregulation
started in banking world. But it is still not good enough at the present.
Service charges of Japan Post Bank is especially high. Their service must
be improved much more in many respects for they were privatized in October
this year. Otherwise, their privatization becomes meaningless.
In connection with development of computer network system in money and
financial world, there is another important public infrastructure to be
improved.
While citizen tax payers are requested to pay various taxes and social
insurance fees through banking service including automatic debit transfer
system, there are almost no advantages in return to use computer network
system. They are used just to collect money from tax payer or from social
insurance fee payers, and there exists virtually no returns in connection
with it. That should not be the the way it is.
Typical example as such is mysterious social insurance records issue. Almost
50 million records are missing, insurance money of which will not possibly
be paid forever. People do not believe the whole insurance system any more.
How can Government regain the trust for the total pension system now?
One concrete answer to it is the introduction of a pension passbook to replace
pension book at the moment. Pension book only records the name of participant
and the date they participated in pension plan. That's not enough obviously.
Pension Passbook suggested by Democratic Party of Japan show all records of
payment of fees and money to be received as benefit on each stages. Such
dynamic system is very necessary to regain the trust from people.
All contents of such pension passbook are expected to be checked at any time
at Social Insurance Office or even at any ATMs of banks. I think it very
possible from the development of computer network system for bank accounts
at this moment.
In order to build such two-way network service system, understanding of people
about building Basic Resident Register Network and/or Social Security Number
System is very necessary.
It seems that building up such computer network infrastructure is the only way
to solve pension plan in chaos at the moment.
2007/12/29
Tadashi HAYASE
English Home Page
Japanese Home Page