Ozawa may make decision on whether to resign next week+

TOKYO, March 17 Kyodo - Main opposition Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa said Tuesday that he will make a decision on whether to resign after prosecutors reach a conclusion, possibly on March 24, on whether to indict Ozawa's arrested secretary.

''I hope the prosecution authorities will come up with a fair conclusion,''
Ozawa told a news conference. ''As I suppose that they will make a decision in
the not-so-distant future...I will make a decision on my future when that
conclusion has been reached.''
Given these remarks, Ozawa is likely to make a decision as early as March 24,
when the custody period for his secretary Takanori Okubo expires. His decision
is also likely to take into consideration the specific nature of the charge
should Okubo be indicted.
Okubo was arrested March 3 on suspicion of taking illegal corporate donations
from organizations linked to general contractor Nishimatsu Construction Co.
Ozawa reiterated that he and his secretary have not done anything wrong,
saying, ''It is true that we have received donations and we have reported the
donations in accordance with the political funds control law.''
On deciding whether to resign, Ozawa said he will not take into account the
results of local elections such as the upcoming Chiba gubernatorial election on
March 29, saying local elections and national elections are not related.
''Although local elections are very important, they do not equate at all with
my future,'' Ozawa said, adding that party politics have not taken root in
Japan, where voters often place more importance on the local situation when
voting for a candidate.
On March 10, Ozawa hinted that he would make a decision about resigning if the
political funds scandal has a negative effect on the party in a general
election.
Ozawa's remarks appear to pour cold water on the view that he may resign if a
candidate supported by the DPJ loses a local election while there is no
progress in the investigation into the political funds scandal.
Ozawa again stressed that the party's goal and responsibility is to realize
politics led by the people and have the people bring about a change in
government, adding that his personal matters have nothing to do with such aims.
Meanwhile, Ozawa criticized a remark Monday by Prime Minister Taro Aso, who
told the House of Councillors Budget Committee that Ozawa's secretary was
arrested because what he had done ''was clearly illegal.''
''It is certain that (the prosecution) is a part of the administration. For the
leader of the administration to make such comments has probably never happened
before,'' Ozawa said, making it clear that he found the prime minister's
remarks unacceptable.
Aso's comments also drew criticism from other DPJ lawmakers, with DPJ's upper
house lawmaker Kenji Hirata saying, ''It is like the head of the administrative
body ordering investigative and legal authorities to find (a suspect) guilty.''
''The prime minister has exceedingly limited recognition of protecting human
rights and the Constitution,'' Hirata said.
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said that the party intends to question
Aso over the issue at parliamentary sessions.
Aso told reporters on Tuesday evening, ''The principle of 'innocent until
proven guilty' is a matter of course... The fact that (he) was arrested is a
fact,'' while Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura defended Aso, saying that
his remarks were not intended to suggest the outcome of any trial.
''Prosecutors arrested (Okubo) based on the law and evidence. It is possible
that the case could result in a 'not guilty' verdict or a false charge. This is
a country ruled by law,'' Kawamura told a news conference.
==Kyodo