EDITORIAL: Haraguchi's remarks

Sensible people refrain from uttering remarks in public that could arouse doubts about their awareness of their social positions and their characters, even if the words reflect what they really think.

This common-sense rule is particularly important for people in power, who should always ponder the possible consequences of their public remarks.

Members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, including a Cabinet member, have made a series of comments that make us wonder if they are lacking in prudence and discretion.

Those remarks were made in connection with the scandal involving the political fund management body of DPJ Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa.

At a news conference, Kazuhiro Haraguchi, minister of internal affairs and communications, criticized media coverage of the scandal, saying: "News reports quote persons concerned (as information sources). Are they people linked to prosecutors or people linked to the suspects?

"Unless that at least is made clear, such news reports are not appropriate for broadcast using the public airwaves."

Haraguchi was apparently referring to TV and radio news reports.

News organizations should disclose their news sources as much as possible. But there are certain types of information that journalists cannot obtain unless they promise not to identify the sources.

In such cases, protecting these sources is one of the most important rules of our professional ethics. It is a crucial element that allows journalism to perform its core function of providing necessary information to society and thereby defending democracy.

People involved in news reporting must discipline themselves to avoid using vague language. But it is up to each news organization to decide how to report the information.

The communications minister, who has the authority to grant broadcast licenses, made remarks that indicate his wish to regulate reporting by broadcasters. Later, Haraguchi responded to the concern by saying, "I have no intention to intervene in the content of programs."

He is too insensitive to the fact that his words could put pressure on those who report the news.

The DPJ has decided to set up a task force to deal with leaks of information on criminal investigations. A group of DPJ lawmakers has been vocal in its criticism, saying, "Should prosecutors be allowed to ruin politics?"

At a policy meeting of the communications ministry, one legislator said reporters at press clubs of ministries and agencies are under too much control by bureaucrats to write proper news stories.

Such remarks indicate a disturbing lack of discretion among lawmakers of the governing party.

Do they really understand the meaning of holding power?

The DPJ politicians should urge Ozawa to hold a news conference to answer questions and testify before the Diet to provide an adequate explanation about the scandal.

However, few DPJ members are calling on the kingpin to do so. The ruling party is also apparently determined to reject the request that Ozawa be summoned to testify before the Diet as an unsworn witness.

Ozawa holds control over the party's election strategy, political funds and personnel decisions. Most of Ozawa's budget proposals were adopted by the government that formulated the draft fiscal 2010 budget in late December.

Even so, the qualifications of DPJ members as ruling party lawmakers should be called into question if they lack the courage to say things that could ruffle Ozawa's feathers.

Instead of misguided criticism about the investigation or news reports, the DPJ should focus on efforts to uncover the truth.

The DPJ is no longer an opposition party. It is the governing party, which is in a position to exercise state power and chart a course for the nation. The party and its members should have a clearer idea of what it means to be in power.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 22