Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Japanese LDP sets sights on judge Date: Sat, 7 Nov 92 19:23:58 EST Message-ID: \SE A;WORLD \SS (WS) \HD Japanese LDP sets sights on judge \BY Elaine Kurtenbach \CR ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT TOKYO TOKYO - The ruling party threatened yesterday to sue and seek the impeachment of a judge and two prosecutors on behalf of senior politicians embarrassed by allegations that they offered millions of dollars in hush money to a rightist. The backlash against the court indicates how deeply the allegations have hurt Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's scandal-stricken Liberal Democratic Party, even though prosecutors have not suggested the alleged offers were illegal. Opposition questions about the issue led Mr. Miyazawa to a heated defense of his fellow Liberal Democrats in parliament yesterday. He noted that prosecutors had not proven the allegations and questioned the reliability of evidence based on statements from the rightist group's leader. "Who on earth are these people? The prosecutors have not said these are facts," said Mr. Miyazawa, raising his voice above opposition hecklers. The million-dollar corruption scandal has overshadowed discussion of crucial economic legislation since the legislative session opened a week ago. An official at the party's headquarters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the party was considering calling for impeachment proceedings against the presiding judge. The party, which has been in power for 37 years, also considered suggesting that two prosecutors in the case face a disciplinary review for presenting the allegations, he said. Prosecutors told a Tokyo district court Thursday that former Liberal Democratic power broker Shin Kanemaru had offered Ryumin Oshima, head of the Kominto (Emperor's Subjects Party), about $25 million to stop harassing former Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita during his 1987 bid for the prime minister's post. The allegations increased the likelihood of a delay in key budget legislation needed to finance measures to stimulate Japan's sagging economy. Since the legislature convened Oct. 30, lawmakers have been tied up in bickering over opposition demands that Mr. Kanemaru and Mr. Takeshita appear in parliament to make sworn statements about the affair. They have refused, although Mr. Takeshita has offered to speak before a special parliamentary ethics panel. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM