Uruma says his remarks as 'senior gov't official' misconstrued+

TOKYO, March 9 Kyodo - Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Iwao Uruma said Monday his remarks last week on
a Nishimatsu Construction Co.-linked fundraising scandal were misconstrued when
he was quoted by the media as an unidentified ''senior government official.''

Uruma, 63, was reported as saying in off-the-record remarks that it was
unlikely the investigation into the scandal, which has led to the arrest of
opposition Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa's secretary, would
affect lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
The remarks fueled speculation the probe was politically motivated to prevent
Ozawa from seizing power from the ruling bloc of the LDP and the New Komeito
party, at a time when the DPJ, political pundits say, had been on track to win
the next general election, that must be held by the fall, and oust the
long-dominant LDP.
During a House of Councillors Budget Committee session Monday morning, Uruma
said, ''I feel what I wanted to say wasn't conveyed in the way I had
intended...and I apologize for having caused misunderstanding.''
Uruma said he does not recall mentioning to reporters that the scandal would
affect any specific political parties or lawmakers.
''I told them I'm not in a position to make any comments on the investigation
and I should have stopped there,'' said Uruma, while denying that his comments
were based on any particular information about the investigation.
At a press conference in the afternoon, he denied the allegation that he had
referred to or heard any reference to the ''LDP'' during a meeting with
reporters on Thursday, while they insisted they had asked him questions
mentioning the LDP.
Despite the confusion, Prime Minister Taro Aso denied in the Diet session that
he has any intention of sacking Uruma and defended him, saying his comments
were reported ''incorrectly.''
Asked if that means he thinks media reports were erroneous, Aso said in
parliament, ''I believe there might be disparities between what Deputy Chief
Cabinet Secretary Uruma recalled telling reporters and what reporters recalled
being told or how they received the comments.''
Later in the evening he retracted the ''his comments were reported
incorrectly'' remark, which could be taken as pinning the blame for the
confusion on the media rather than Uruma.
Although Aso admitted it was inappropriate for Uruma to say something that
could cause misunderstanding, he told reporters that he has no plans to impose
a heavier punishment on him given that Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura
has already given him a warning.
Kawamura, who on Sunday identified the senior government official as Uruma,
echoed Aso's opinion and said it is not necessary for Uruma to resign from his
post on the grounds he did not make the comments based on concrete information
from investigative authorities.
Uruma said at the news conference he would abide by the decision by Aso, who
tapped him for the post.
Uruma said in parliament he had only told reporters ''how difficult it is to
prove knowledge of illegality as a common belief'' based on his own experience
as the National Police Agency chief and that making an arrest means the
prosecutors have enough evidence to build a case.
''It wasn't appropriate for me to make any comments concerning the
investigation,'' Uruma said at the press conference, while emphasizing he has
never contacted investigative authorities, either officially or unofficially,
since assuming the current post last September in line with the launch of the
Aso Cabinet.
According to Uruma, the meeting with reporters was off the record and neither
he nor the reporters, who totaled around 20, took notes or recorded the
conversation, so what he is telling the Diet is only based on his and three
secretaries' memories.
Uruma's comments drew a barrage of criticism from both the DPJ and the LDP. DPJ
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said the comments made him suspect that the
Cabinet received information from prosecutors ahead of the arrest.
Ruling bloc lawmakers including LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda and New
Komeito party leader Akihiro Ota criticized Uruma as well and said he needs to
be more careful about what he says, according to another deputy chief Cabinet
secretary, Jun Matsumoto, who briefed the press on a meeting held Monday
morning between the government and the ruling coalition.
On Sunday, Kawamura revealed on a TV program that the senior government
official was Uruma and said he had issued a warning to Uruma about making
''quite inappropriate'' remarks.
The ruling bloc is apparently unable to be too aggressive in its criticism over
the Nishimatsu scandal involving Ozawa's secretary, as groups for senior LDP
lawmakers such as Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai are also
alleged to have received donations from organizations related to the midsize
general contractor.
==Kyodo
2009-03-09 21:42: