DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 01/11/08

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 01/11/08 INDEX: (1) New antiterrorism bill to be enacted today, leaving impression that DPJ was fighting windmills (Yomiuri) (2) U.S. State Department welcomes passage of antiterrorism legislation (Mainichi) (3) Upper House deliberations on refueling assistance bill end after only scratching the surface (Asahi) (4) Application of Article 59 of Constitution to new refueling legislation (Tokyo Shimbun) (5) Editorial: DPJ's attitude in Diet beyond comprehension (Nikkei) (6) Season for LDP factions to increase membership (Yomiuri) (7) Legislature part 1 (b): Fear of overheated scattering of pork-barrel largesse (Yomiuri) (8) Diet lopsided (Part 3): Fukuda determined to override upper chamber (Yomiuri) ARTICLES: (1) New antiterrorism bill to be enacted today, leaving impression that DPJ was fighting windmills YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged) January 11, 2008 The new antiterrorism special measures bill is to be put to a second vote in the Lower House plenary session today and be passed into law three months after it was submitted to the Diet. During that time, the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),the first party in the Upper House, spent its time running about in confusion in handling the legislation. The government and the ruling bloc, helped by Prime Minister Fukuda's persistence, somehow managed to enact the bill, however. They still have the task of addressing future challenges to the management of the Diet, such as closer cooperation between the executives of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Lower House and Upper House Caucuses. Reflection "The DPJ does not have a single-party majority in the Upper House, so we should have exchanged views in a more detailed manner with other opposition parties," the DPJ's Deputy President Kan said at a press briefing yesterday, humbly reflecting on the fact that the party was wavering in its responses during the current session of the Diet, for instance, at one point the party threw away its initial policy of carrying over the new antiterrorism bill to the next Diet session. Other opposition parties are still angry at the DPJ. The Japanese Communist Party's (JDP) Chairman Shii criticized the DPJ at a press conference: "The DPJ helped the LDP twice in the final days (of the Diet session). First, it submitted a counterproposal, and next, it turned around its initial policy of rejecting (the new antiterrorism bill) and instead decided to carry TOKYO 00000103 002 OF 013 over the bill to the next Diet session. Although (DPJ President Ozawa) said he was confronting the ruling bloc, the party's confrontational stance lacked substance." The People's New Party's (PNP) Secretary General Hisaoki Kamei warned the DPJ at a press briefing prior to the ordinary Diet session to be convened on Jan. 18: "It is necessary to be humble in working in the Diet." The DPJ's initial strategy toward the new antiterrorism legislation was that "the opposition parties, which control the Upper House, would buy time in the Upper House in order to force the ruling bloc to scrap the bill and instead accept the entirety of the DPJ's counterproposal," as one senior DPJ lawmaker put it. In October, Ozawa in an article for a monthly journal declared that if the DPJ took over the government, he would like to realize Japan's participation in the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF),but he concluded that the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling operations in the Indian Ocean was a violation of the Constitution. Ozawa instructed his party members to prepare a counterproposal that would reflect his views. Many members of the party, however, raised objections to Ozawa's idea, and drafting a counterproposal was not easy. Many opposed the submission of the counterproposal. At one point, the party decided to defer submitting it. In the one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Fukuda, Ozawa aimed at forming a grand coalition with the LDP, but their conversation bore no fruit, so, eventually Ozawa's strategy fell apart. After the fuss caused by Ozawa when he offered his resignation as president to take responsibility for the failure of his idea of forming a grand coalition, the DPJ continued to appear to be wavering in its responses to the new antiterrorism bill. At a time when the DPJ introduced its counterproposal in the Upper House at the end of December, Ozawa was discussing his strategy of carrying over both the new antiterrorism bill and the counterproposal to the next Diet session with DPJ Upper House Caucus Chairman Azuma Koshiishi, Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji, and other DPJ executive officers. One executive DPJ officer gave this explanation about the purpose of the submission of the counterproposal: "We aimed at giving the impression that the ruling bloc was high-handed by letting it put the antiterrorism bill to a second vote despite the opposition bloc's call for carrying over the antiterrorism bill to the next Diet session. This was also related to the party's decision to forego submitting a censure motion against the prime minister." The last tactic to demonstrate its resistance against the antiterrorism legislation was easily frustrated. LDP uneasy about cooperation between its Upper House and Lower House members The government and the ruling bloc gave the highest priority to the adoption of the new antiterrorism bill in the Diet and steered the Diet in an aggressive fashion. LDP Secretary General Ibuki made this critical remark at a general meeting yesterday of his Ibuki faction: "The DPJ should have come up TOKYO 00000103 003 OF 013 with its counterproposal a little more early. It appeared to be maneuvering for party interests because it introduced its counterproposal at the end of the Diet session." LFP Upper House Caucus Chairman Otsuji told reporters: "Taking a second vote (on the antiterrorism legislation) in the Lower House is a right action stipulated in the Constitution." Prime Minister Fukuda from the beginning signaled his intention to re-adopt the legislation in the Lower House. Fukuda's determination contained those who were cautious about taking a second vote on the legislation in the ruling bloc with one New Komeito member arguing, "How about carrying over the bill to the upcoming regular Diet session." An optimistic view now emerging in the LDP is that if the ruling bloc assumes a tough stance in the Diet from now on, as well, the DPJ's responses to the Diet would be weak. However, the LDP, too, has the task to address in terms of how closely its members of the Lower House and Upper House will work together. At a time of re-extending the term of the current Diet session in last December, the LDP Upper House Caucus assumed that the DPJ would defer discussion and insisted from the beginning that the Diet session be extended to sometime in January, but the LDP Lower House Caucus, in anticipation of the DPJ's concessions, called until the last moment for extending the session to the end of the year. But the LDP eventually decided to extend the term broadly. Members in the LDP Upper House Caucus are unhappy with the LDP Lower House members, with one Upper House member arguing, "The Lower House members do not understand that it is impossible to expect the DPJ to behave as if it were living up to the LDP's expectations." (2) U.S. State Department welcomes passage of antiterrorism legislation MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) Eve., January 11, 2008 Hiroshi Wada in Washington Japan Desk Director James Zumwalt of the U.S. Department of State, meeting on Jan. 10 with the Japan press corps, welcomed the impending enactment of the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. He expressed his expectation for an early resumption of the (Maritime Self-Defense Force) refueling mission (in the Indian Ocean). (3) Upper House deliberations on refueling assistance bill end after only scratching the surface ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) January 11, 2008 Deliberations in the House of Councillors on the government-sponsored refueling assistance bill stopped short of shedding light on the oil diversion allegation and discussing the contents of the bill mainly because the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan spent much time pursuing a series of scandals involving the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and also because many contentious points had already been discussed in the House of TOKYO 00000103 004 OF 013 Representatives. At the same time, as seen in heated discussions on the option of enacting a general law on the overseas dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces, there are signs of new security debate between the ruling and opposition camps. Deliberations on oil-diversion and cover-up allegations lose momentum Some 60 days have passed since the bill cleared the House of Representatives on November 13. In Upper House deliberations, the DPJ and other opposition parties put high priority on pursuing the series of scandals involving former Administrative Vice-Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya. Conducting Moriya's sworn testimony following that in the Lower House, the upper chamber successfully elicited the names of the lawmakers who had been present at a party from the former vice-defense chief. The Upper House undoubtedly achieved certain results. But the chamber's efforts to shed light on allegations that Japanese oil had been diverted for use in the Iraq operation and that MOD had covered up the underreported fuel the MSDF supplied to a U.S. supply ship lost steam in the end. MOD's survey of 794 refueling operations for six years' time found that some 20 PERCENT of the oil had gone to ships that were engaged in multiple operations, such as the Iraq operations. MOD disclosed voluminous data, including a supply ship's logbook, that was largely blacked out. The barrier of military secrecy was thick. The government brushed aside the diversion allegation on the strength of clear denials by U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer and other key U.S. government officials. It was difficult to pursue the allegation further. In 2003, the MSDF underreported the fuel it provided to a U.S. oiler and left the amount uncorrected, allowing cabinet ministers to make mistaken replies. Some opposition members pointed out the involvement of senior officials of the then Defense Agency. Despite that, MOD's conclusion held the Maritime Staff Office accountable. Last night, reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) asked Prime Minister Fukuda if the new refueling bill had been discussed thoroughly. In response, the prime minister said with confidence: "There were many similar questions, and I think that means it was debated thoroughly." Debate on general law gaining steam The validity of the refueling assistance legislation is one year. Operation beyond that period requires an additional legal step. Feeling limits to the approach of repeatedly enacting special measures laws for SDF overseas missions, the government and ruling parties have come up with the idea of enacting a general law (permanent law) enabling the government to dispatch the SDF as necessary. The matter was discussed actively in the course of Upper House deliberations. Before the Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday, Prime Minister Fukuda expressed strong eagerness for enacting general legislation, saying: "It is vital to let other counties know that Japan is eager to extend international cooperation. Japan must carry out activities appropriately so as not TOKYO 00000103 005 OF 013 to be labeled as a free-rider relying heavily on other countries' activities." SDF-officer-turned-LDP-lawmaker Masahisa Sato also said on Jan. 8: "The government must clearly present its basic thinking about international activities to the Japanese people and the international community." In response, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura stated: "Many members not only from the ruling camp but also from the opposition bloc mentioned the need for general legislation. I think there is a positive environment for it." When Prime Minister Fukuda and DPJ President Ozawa discussed forming a grand coalition, they also agreed on the need to enact a general law. There are positive views in the DPJ as well. The government and ruling parties also want to break the deadlocked talks with the DPJ by using general legislation. (4) Application of Article 59 of Constitution to new refueling legislation TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) January 11, 2008 The new antiterrorism special measures bill is expected to be put to a second vote in the plenary session of the Lower House on Jan. 11 and passed into law by a majority vote of members of the ruling parties. It is the first time in 57 years for the Lower House to put a bill voted down in the Upper House to a second vote in the Lower House, by applying the regulation provided under Article 59 of the Constitution. The Tokyo Shimbun asked two experts who are for and against the move about the appropriateness of the application of the Article 59 Article 59 (vote on bills and supremacy of the Lower House) ¶1. A bill becomes a law on passage by both Houses, except as otherwise provided by the Constitution. ¶2. A bill which is passed by the House of Representatives, and upon which the House of Councillors makes a decision different from that of the House of Representatives, becomes a law when passed a second time by the House of Representatives by a majority of two-thirds or more of the members present. ¶3. The provision of the preceding paragraph does not preclude the House of Representatives from calling for the meeting of a joint committee of both Houses, provided for by law. ¶4. Failure by the House of Councillors to take final action within sixty (60) days after receipt of a bill passed by the House of Representatives, time in recess excepted, may be determined by the House of Representatives to constitute a rejection of the said bill by the House of Councillors. For: Koji Murata, professor at Doshisha University; Decision on whether to exercise the Article depends on political will -- Do you think it is appropriate for the ruling parties to put the bill to a second vote in the Lower House? "Whether to apply the Article or not is the matter of a political will. Whether this bill is worth undergoing a second vote depends on individuals' judgments. In terms of procedures, there is no problem about the ruling parties exercising Article 59, based on the prime TOKYO 00000103 006 OF 013 minister's decision." -- Is it worth applying the Article to the new refueling legislation? "It has become worthy of doing so. Since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared that he would stake his political career on the bill, international interest in the matter and its importance has heightened. It is only natural for the opposition camp to oppose to such a determination by the prime minister. Since the legislation has been made a contentious issue, whether the bill obtains Diet approval has become something like a litmus test of Japan's international contributions and future relations between Japan and the U.S." -- The opposition camp is criticizing the move, claiming that it lacks a national consensus. "The typical pattern of public opinion on the security issue is that those who are for, against and do not know account for one-third of respondents, respectively. Since the issue is not directly related to people's lives, clear-cut public opinion will not be formed. As such, it does not make sense to say that Article 59 should not be exercised until public opinion is formed." -- A point has been made that putting the bill to a second vote is contrary to the public will shown in the Upper House election last summer. "The major point at issue in the Upper House election was the pension issue. If the ruling parties proceed with pension reform without lending an ear to the opposition camp, they would be ignoring the public will. However, this is not the case here this." -- There is the possibility of the ruling parties repeatedly putting bills to a second vote in the future. "It is unusual that the Lower and Upper Houses are controlled by different camps. It is also unusual that the ruling parties account for two-thirds of the members of the Lower House. It is important to realize that we should not consider such coincidences as a conventional case." -- Do you think even bills directly related to people's lives should undergo a second vote? "The public would strongly react to the idea of exercising the Article for bills directly related to voters' lives, such as the gasoline tax. Public support ratings for the cabinet are bound to drop further. Prime Minister Fukuda would be negative toward the idea, even though doing so is legally possible." Koji Murata: Born in Kobe in 1964. Graduated from Doshisha University. Studied at George Washington University. Graduated from the Kobe University Graduate School of Law. Serving in the present position since 2005, after serving as an associate professor at Hiroshima University. Fields of specialization are American diplomacy and security policy studies. 43 years old. Against: Setsu Kobayashi, professor at Keio University; Bill should be scrapped in principle, since it does not reflect public will TOKYO 00000103 007 OF 013 -- The ruling parties will adopt the new refueling legislation in a second vote in the Lower House. What is your view on that? "I cannot believe it. Given the results of opinion polls, there is no public opinion supporting a resumption of the refueling operations (in the Indian Ocean by the Maritime Self-Defense Force). They insist that since they have a majority of two-thirds in the Lower House, they are entitled to use the second-vote right. It is an offense to democracy." -- The ruling parties are insisting that putting the bill to a second vote is the right given by the Constitution. "Putting a bill to a second vote should be a special exception. Article 59 of the Constitution provides that a bill becomes a law on passage by both Houses. And yet, the LDP asserts that it is a usual practice to put a bill to a second vote in the Lower House in the event it is voted down in the Lower House. The two-chamber system is a method of correctly reflecting public will, by having two chambers, instead of one. Bills should be killed if they fail to obtain approval from both Houses." -- In reality, the ruling parties have a two-thirds majority in the Lower House. "The premise of that regulation is that since the Lower House can be dissolved, it is constantly subject to the public will. However, the LDP suffered a crushing defeat in the Upper House election last year. The ruling parties' two-thirds majority in the Lower House reflects the public will of two years ago. If Prime Minister Fukuda insists that it is important to pass the legislation, he should dissolve the Lower House to gain a two-thirds majority." -- What is your view on the necessity of the refueling operations? "Concerned cabinet ministers had warned that if the new legislation were not passed into law, Japan would find itself isolated in the international community. However, nothing like that has happened. Americans want to end the war. It was careless of former Prime Minister Abe and Prime Minister Fukuda to have made a commitment to the U.S." -- There is the possibility of the ruling parties repeatedly putting bills to a second vote in the future. "It is not possible to exercise the two-thirds majority right in a casual manner. The public would think it arrogant if the Diet gives approval in a second vote without public support. They can do it if they like, and set the conditions for being defeated in a Lower House election." Setsu Kobayashi: Born in Tokyo in 1949. Graduated from the Keio University Graduate School of Law. Attorney since 1989, after serving as guest researcher at Harvard University. Fields of specialization are the Constitution and modern politics. Attorney. 58 years old. (5) Editorial: DPJ's attitude in Diet beyond comprehension NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) January 11, 2008 TOKYO 00000103 008 OF 013 The government's new antiterrorism bill designed to enable the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) to resume its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean was voted down yesterday in the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee by an opposition-bloc majority. It was a too-late decision made by the Upper House. The bill is expected to be rejected at an Upper House plenary session today and then will be brought back into the House of Representatives for a revote the same day. In its plenary session, the bill will be finally passed by the ruling camp's two-thirds overriding vote. The MSDF refueling operation naturally must be resumed quickly, because it is Japan's key contribution to fighting terrorism. But the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) prolonged the deliberations on the bill until the last moment and caused the suspension of the refueling mission for a long period. The DPJ's attitude in the Diet is totally incomprehensible. The DPJ is not just an opposition party but is in partial charge of managing the affairs of state as the main party in the Upper House. The party should be more aware of its responsibility. Prior to the start of deliberations on the new antiterrorism bill in the Upper House, the Nikkei continued to emphasize the need for the ruling and opposition camps to find common ground through talks in a sensible way, adding that if it is difficult to do so, the Upper House should quickly express its intention. Regrettably, such expectations were betrayed, and a decision was made to extend the extraordinary Diet session. It was late last year when the DPJ finally submitted its counterproposal. The party should have submitted it much earlier. The DPJ counterproposal conditionally allows the dispatch of Ground Self-Defense Force troops to Afghanistan to assist civilians there. But it is hard to say at the present point of time that the DPJ proposal is an effective, appropriate policy. There are objections even in the DPJ. Even at the last moment of the Diet session, the DPJ failed to take proper steps. It initially intended to force the government to carry its new antiterrorism bill and the DPJ counterproposal over to the next ordinary Diet session. But it is irrational that the party did not demonstrate the intention of the Upper House during the two months of deliberations. Even the significance of the existence of the Upper House may be questioned. Since the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party strongly opposed continued discussion, the DPJ had to make a policy switch to take a vote on the bill in the current session. It is a matter of course that the DPJ is criticized as being swayed by party interests. Once the new antiterrorism bill is passed in the Diet today, the focus of attention will be shifted to deliberations on a budget bill in the ordinary Diet session to be convened on Jan. 18. The Liberal Democratic Party and the DPJ will inevitably clash head-on over what to do about the provisional gasoline tax rate, but unless the budget bill is passed into law by the end of March, financial losses may be generated, and eventually great confusion may be caused. The ruling and opposition parties are now required to take a responsible attitude in order to prevent confusion in the people's daily lives. (6) Season for LDP factions to increase membership YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) TOKYO 00000103 009 OF 013 January 11, 2008 Factions in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are now working on increasing their membership. The Koga and Tanigaki factions, which were derived from the former Miyazawa faction, are expected to merge. The factions have likely been motivated to prepare for the political situation after the next House of Representatives election, as they have predicted that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will give them a certain level of understanding for their moves as he became LDP president backed by eight factions, excluding the one headed by Taro Aso. Election Committee Chairman Makoto Koga, who heads a faction, told reporters yesterday: "Along with the (Tanigaki faction),our faction will continue to support the Fukuda government and will take the lead in rebuilding the LDP." Policy Research Council Chairman Sadakazu Tanigaki, who also heads a faction, stated in a meeting of his faction: "I would like to discuss with Mr. Koga creating a faction that would be acceptable." Koga and Tanigaki will hold a meeting on Jan. 16 to confirm the merger plan. The membership of the expanded faction will total 61, on a par with the second largest Tsushima faction (membership of 68). Former Policy Research Council Chairman Nobuteru Ishihara joined the Yamasaki faction last December. The faction is expected to expand its membership. Some take the view that faction head Taku Yamasaki let Ishihara join his faction to seek to constrain Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari and former Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe, who are influential in the faction. SIPDIS The Tsushima, Ibuki and Aso factions have boosted their memberships. The reason for the increase is that they believe larger factions will receive more cabinet and party posts than smaller ones when the cabinet and party executive posts are reshuffled. Depending on the outcome of the next Lower House race, political realignment might occur. With that in mind, a Koga faction member said: "It would be easier for large factions to take political leadership." A senior member of the Machimura faction, to which Fukuda used to belong, noted: "If our faction broadly expands the membership, we will come under criticism from other factions." Therefore, the faction has taken a cautious stance toward the expansion of its membership, only recruiting House of Councillors members elected last July. The factions have called mostly on lawmakers who do not belong to any faction to join them. But some lawmakers with no factional allegiance have taken part in the policy study group called "New Breeze," which is led by Takebe. There is also a move by a cross-factional study group. The Ibuki faction deputy chief, Shoichi Nakagawa, and conservative lawmakers formed a study group they call the "true conservative policy association." The group has given rise to much speculation that it may support Aso in the party's next presidential race. Number of members of LDP factions Faction Lower House members Upper House members Total Machimura 59 25 84 TOKYO 00000103 010 OF 013 Tsushima 46 22 68 SIPDIS Koga 38 8 46 Yamasaki 37 3 40 Ibuki 21 7 27 Aso 15 3 18 Nikai 14 2 16 Koumura 14 1 15 Tanigaki 12 3 15 No faction 49 10 59 (7) Legislature part 1 (b): Fear of overheated scattering of pork-barrel largesse YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) January 9, 2008 Measures to improve services to the public can easily obtain agreements from various parties. Amid the widespread observation that dissolution of the Lower House and a snap election would be imminent, lawmakers are beginning to float policies that have a strong flavor of bringing in pork-barrel largesse. Catchy headlines The LDP's organ newspaper on Jan. 1 featured articles on agricultural policies with such headlines as "Another 111 billion yen secured in budget" and "LDP will protect agriculture and farm villages." LDP printed 1.5 million copies and distributed them in rural areas from the end of the year through the beginning of the new year. There are 111 billion yen in additional agriculture-related budgetary funds earmarked in the fiscal 2007 supplementary budget and the fiscal 2008 draft budget. The fiscal 2008 draft budget was adopted at a cabinet meeting on Dec. 24. About 20 farmers gathered the same day in Meiwa Town, Gunma Prefecture, where there are vast stretches of paddy fields and pear farms. Former Agriculture Minister Yoshio Yatsu looked at the farmers and successively proposed the amounts of subsidies the LDP would pledge: "We will give 50,000 yen to those who have reduced acreage. Those who are going to do so from now will get 30,000 yen. We will give additional 50,000 yen to those who grow feed-grain rice." As if it were driven by the DPJ, the government made another decision to pay lump-sum money to farmers who pledge to adjust production over a long period of time. It also plans to pay additional lump-sum money to farmers who grow non-stable rice, such as feed-grain rice, recognizing such as crops grown as a result of reduced acreage. Takashi Shinohara, a Lower House member of the DPJ, was making an impassioned speech with data in his hand in Ukiha City in the southeastern part of Fukuoka Prefecture: "You see how government policies have become close to the DPJ's policies. However, we will directly pay 1 trillion yen to farmers. The government would pay only 200 billion yen in all. This is only one-fifth of the amount the DPJ will pay." About 300 farmers in the audience were listening intently. Shinohara, a former bureaucrat of the agriculture ministry, is often invited as a speaker to meetings of his peer lawmakers. LDP supporters who wanted to listen to the DPJ's policy were also seen TOKYO 00000103 011 OF 013 among the audience. DPJ is the party to consult with first There have been a number of cases in which the DPJ's moves determined the government's and the ruling camp's policy decisions. A proposal for lowering the level of the payment of welfare benefits was floated in the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) in November last year. The proposal was made, following the report an experts council compiled. The report noted that the level of a livelihood assistance portion in welfare benefits is higher than actual living expenses of low-income households. Makoto Yuasa (38),secretary general of the Moyai Support Center for Independent Life, an nonprofit organization that provides consultation for those who have trouble making a living, such as working poor or homeless people, launched a campaign to oppose lowering the level of the payment of welfare benefits. Yuasa, first of all, asked the DPJ to provide an opportunity for his group to report on the actual situation of poor and needy people. The DPJ pledged to invite Yuasa to a meeting of the DPJ's welfare and labor division. Yuasa told a New Komeito lawmaker, "The DPJ pledged to us that it will listen to what we have to say." The New Komeito then decided to invite Yuasa to its division meeting. On Nov. 30, Yuasa met with Hidehisa Otsuji, former welfare minister and chairman of the LDP Upper House Caucus, in the Diet building. After telling Otsuji that he has also worked on the DPJ and the New Komeito on the issue, Yuasa said to Otsuji, "Please constrain the welfare ministry from taking unrestrained actions." Otsuji understood Yuasa's request and said, "Taking a toll on the socially weak is not good." He then telephoned Director General Hidekazu Nakamura of the Social Welfare Bureau of the MHLW and asked him to reconsider the plan. The MHLW in December decided to put the plan on the back-burner. No results produced Of 13 bills the DPJ submitted to the Upper House during the current session, only one was enacted. It was an amendment to the Natural Disaster Victims Relief Law, which it submitted jointly with the LDP-sponsored bill. Hiroshi Kawauchi, senior vice chairman of the Lower House Diet Affairs Committee, who is out in the forefront in negotiations between the ruling and opposition camps in the Diet, said, "Our bills do not even get a chance to be deliberated in the Lower House. We should work on the ruling parties for policy talks with the resolve that we must by all means realize our policies." The primary role of legislature is to enable the ruling and opposition camps to find common ground while cooperating or confronting at times, so that bills that are necessary for the people are passed into law. However, since the DPJ has brought to the forefront its basic strategy of snatching administration, by driving the Fukuda administration into an early dissolution of the Lower House and a snap election, it is difficult for it to shift its policy course to flexibly cooperation with the ruling camp. TOKYO 00000103 012 OF 013 Masashi Waki, senior vice chairman of the Upper House Diet Affairs Committee, said, "The ruling parties are responsible for passing bills. If the DPJ opposes bills we submit in the Upper House, we must overcome their opposition, by putting them to a second vote in the Lower House for approval by a two-third majority of the ruling parties. This is not a tricky move but the royal road." Both the ruling and opposition camps remain unable to find a breakthrough, though they are dissatisfied with the present situation of legislature. It is the people who will have to pick up the tab for this policy impasse. (8) Diet lopsided (Part 3): Fukuda determined to override upper chamber YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) January 11, 2008 The city of Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture is where the Maritime Self-Defense Force locates the headquarters of its Yokosuka fleet. A number of destroyers are lined up there in port. There is also a supply ship there named "Tokiwa." In November last year, the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law expired. The MSDF wound up its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and pulled out. It is now over two months since then. "If we could come back after handing over our duties to the next ship, that would have been the 100 PERCENT attainment of our mission. I feel as if I had left my heart behind." So saying, MSDF Master Chief Petty Officer Akio Masuda, 48, bit his lip. He was engaged in the refueling mission. A new antiterrorism bill is now before the Diet. The legislation is for Japan to send an MSDF squadron back to the Indian Ocean for refueling activities. Today, it will be enacted with a majority of two-thirds or more in a second-time vote of the House of Representatives. This second vote, as allowed under Article 59 of the Constitution, will be invoked for the first time in a half a century. The Defense Ministry is working night and day to load the outbound MSDF vessels with supplies. Normally, MSDF crewmen get two preventive shots before departure. This time, they will have a second shot at sea on their way to the Indian Ocean. "It normally takes one month to get ready for departure," an MSDF staff officer said. "But," he went on, "we're not allowed any more blank periods." He added, "We'd like to get ready in two weeks." The Diet is now lopsided, with the ruling parties dominating the House of Representatives and the opposition parties controlling the House of Councillors. This parliamentary distortion is casting a shadow over Japan's foreign and security policies. After discontinuing the MSDF refueling mission, the government desperately sought understanding from various countries. Katsutoshi Kono, 53, director general of the Operations and Plans Department of the Maritime Staff Office, and other MSDF officers visited the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii and the U.S. Department of Defense in Washington for a week from Dec. 2 last year to explain Japan's political situation. Kono said: "The opposition parties are against the refueling TOKYO 00000103 013 OF 013 legislation. But the Constitution provides for the House of Representatives to override with a second vote. It's up to the prime minister's decision." A U.S. Navy officer responded: "I understand the political situation in Japan. I hope you will come back after going through democratic procedures." Last fall, the ruling parties were wavering over whether to take a second vote in the House of Representatives. That is because they feared that the prime minister might be driven to dissolve the Lower House and call a general election if the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) passed a censure motion against the prime minister in the House of Councillors. New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, was opposed to voting again on the bill. In September last year, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takehiko Endo, whose illegal receiving of state subsidies was brought to light, resigned when the DPJ was poised to submit a censure motion against him in the House of Councillors. A censure resolution has no legal force. In 1998, however, the House of Councillors passed a motion censuring Fukushiro Nukaga, the then director of the Defense Agency. As a result, Nukaga resigned. His case was a trauma for Endo. The atmosphere, however, began to change. That was because the LDP and the DPJ were in turmoil over the initiative to form a grand coalition. DPJ President Ozawa, meeting the press on Nov. 4, clarified his intention to resign as DPJ head. He said, "It would be hard to win the next election for the House of Representatives." Many people in the LDP took it that the DPJ was not ready yet to fight seriously. Makoto Koga, chairman of the LDP's Election Strategy Council, has rejected a call for an early dissolution of the House of Representatives. "The Constitution provides a second-time vote," Koga said in his Nov. 24 speech. He added: "If we can do so when necessary, there's no need to panic. We must also think to serve out our term in the House of Representatives." On the evening of Dec. 11, Prime Minister Fukuda invited New Komeito President Ota to his official residence. Fukuda then told Ota that he was determined to have the new antiterrorism bill pass the Diet during its current session. Ota was sure that Fukuda would not dissolve the House of Representatives even if he was censured in the House of Councillors. The DPJ decided not to submit a censure motion against Fukuda in the House of Councillors even if the House of Representatives overrides the House of Councillors' rejection of the new antiterrorism bill. That is because a censure resolution would lose its weight if it ends in vain. The Diet has been warped over the past five months. But Fukuda made up his mind to unseal the lower chamber's second-time voting with a majority of two thirds to override the upper chamber's decision. DONOVAN