Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO1106
2009-05-15 08:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
OPPOSITION PARLIAMENTARIANS INDICT JAPAN POST CEO
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UNCLAS TOKYO 001106
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
USTR FOR AUSTR CUTLER, BEEMAN, AND HOLLOWAY
NSC FOR LOI
TREASURY FOR IA/WINSHIP AND FOSTER
PARIS FOR USOECD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON PGOV JA
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PARLIAMENTARIANS INDICT JAPAN POST CEO
REF: A. TOKYO 1091
B. TOKYO 781
Sensitive But Unclassified. Not for Internet Distribution.
UNCLAS TOKYO 001106
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
USTR FOR AUSTR CUTLER, BEEMAN, AND HOLLOWAY
NSC FOR LOI
TREASURY FOR IA/WINSHIP AND FOSTER
PARIS FOR USOECD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON PGOV JA
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PARLIAMENTARIANS INDICT JAPAN POST CEO
REF: A. TOKYO 1091
B. TOKYO 781
Sensitive But Unclassified. Not for Internet Distribution.
1. (U) Twelve Diet members from the opposition Democratic
Party of Japan (DPJ),the People's New Party (PNP),and the
Social Democratic Party (SDP) submitted a third-party
criminal indictment of Japan Post Holdings CEO Yoshifumi
Nishikawa to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office
May 15, according to media reports. The indictment is for
"attempted special breach of trust," based on the claim
Nishikawa "tried to inflict losses on Japan Post Holdings"
through the sell-off of hotel chain ("Kampo no Yado") at an
"unfair low price."
2. (SBU) A DPJ official confirmed to the Embassy an
indictment was filed, but stressed the indictment came from
individual members and not from the party as a whole. The
official would not confirm the number or identities of the
Diet members who signed the indictment. (Note: The small
People's New Party is composed entirely of parliamentarians
expelled from the ruling LDP for opposing postal
privatization, and stopping or reversing privatization is the
PNP's animating policy. The PNP is currently allied with the
DPJ. End note.)
3. (U) Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Kunio
Hatoyama (LDP) has criticized Japan Post Holding's (JPH)
efforts to sell "Kampo no Yado." Under the postal
privatization laws passed in 2005, JPH is required to sell
off the hotel chain by September 2012. However, after Japan
Post Holdings concluded a contract to sell "Kampo no Yado"
with the Orix Real Estate Corporation in late 2008, Hatoyama
publicly accused JPH of improper bidding practices and
engaging in a "fire sale" (ref B).
4. (SBU) There has also been significant media speculation
that the resulting conflict between MIC Minister Hatoyama and
CEO Nishikawa would result in Nishikawa's being forced out
(ref A). The opposition members who filed the indictment
reportedly also asked for Minister Hatoyama to remove
Nishikawa from his position.
5. (SBU) Comment: The DPJ is well aware postal privatization
remains a lightning rod within the LDP. The indictment, and
any resulting personnel changes, could roil both the process
and the ruling party.
ZUMWALT
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
USTR FOR AUSTR CUTLER, BEEMAN, AND HOLLOWAY
NSC FOR LOI
TREASURY FOR IA/WINSHIP AND FOSTER
PARIS FOR USOECD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON PGOV JA
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PARLIAMENTARIANS INDICT JAPAN POST CEO
REF: A. TOKYO 1091
B. TOKYO 781
Sensitive But Unclassified. Not for Internet Distribution.
1. (U) Twelve Diet members from the opposition Democratic
Party of Japan (DPJ),the People's New Party (PNP),and the
Social Democratic Party (SDP) submitted a third-party
criminal indictment of Japan Post Holdings CEO Yoshifumi
Nishikawa to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office
May 15, according to media reports. The indictment is for
"attempted special breach of trust," based on the claim
Nishikawa "tried to inflict losses on Japan Post Holdings"
through the sell-off of hotel chain ("Kampo no Yado") at an
"unfair low price."
2. (SBU) A DPJ official confirmed to the Embassy an
indictment was filed, but stressed the indictment came from
individual members and not from the party as a whole. The
official would not confirm the number or identities of the
Diet members who signed the indictment. (Note: The small
People's New Party is composed entirely of parliamentarians
expelled from the ruling LDP for opposing postal
privatization, and stopping or reversing privatization is the
PNP's animating policy. The PNP is currently allied with the
DPJ. End note.)
3. (U) Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Kunio
Hatoyama (LDP) has criticized Japan Post Holding's (JPH)
efforts to sell "Kampo no Yado." Under the postal
privatization laws passed in 2005, JPH is required to sell
off the hotel chain by September 2012. However, after Japan
Post Holdings concluded a contract to sell "Kampo no Yado"
with the Orix Real Estate Corporation in late 2008, Hatoyama
publicly accused JPH of improper bidding practices and
engaging in a "fire sale" (ref B).
4. (SBU) There has also been significant media speculation
that the resulting conflict between MIC Minister Hatoyama and
CEO Nishikawa would result in Nishikawa's being forced out
(ref A). The opposition members who filed the indictment
reportedly also asked for Minister Hatoyama to remove
Nishikawa from his position.
5. (SBU) Comment: The DPJ is well aware postal privatization
remains a lightning rod within the LDP. The indictment, and
any resulting personnel changes, could roil both the process
and the ruling party.
ZUMWALT