Yamamoto in trouble (for breaking protocol?) - FUKUSHIMA MAIS MORTÍFERA QUE HIROSHIMA, NAGAZAKI E CHERNOBYL JUNTAS 1

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Yamamoto in trouble (for breaking protocol?)

 November 1, 2013

Upper house committee hears lawmaker who handed letter to emperor

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Members of the House of Councillors steering committee on Friday listened to independent lawmaker Taro Yamamoto who, in a rare breach of protocol, handed a letter directly to Emperor Akihito the previous day at an autumn garden party hosted by the

emperor and Empress Michiko.

"I was not aware that (such an action) was violating the rules. I will accept any decision and opinion of the parliament," Yamamoto said after the meeting with committee members including Mitsuhide Iwaki, chairman of the upper house's Standing Committee on Rules and Administration and a veteran upper house lawmaker from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Yamamoto also insisted that his action did not constitute political exploitation of the emperor, but did not give a clear answer when asked by a reporter if he had any plans to resign.

The nation's Constitution defines the Japanese emperor as a "symbol" of Japan and allows him to perform only such acts in matters of state as are provided in the Constitution. The Constitution also says the emperor shall not have powers related to government.

On Thursday, Yamamoto handed the emperor a letter detailing the current working environment at the disaster-hit Fukushima Daiichi power plant. He told reporters afterward he simply wanted the emperor to know about the health effects of the nuclear crisis.

Yamamoto, 38, an actor-turned-politician, won an upper house seat for the first time in last year's upper house election from the five-seat Tokyo constituency. He is known for his antinuclear power activities.

Iwaki quoted Yamamoto as saying during the hearing, "I didn't think that (my action) would cause such trouble. I feel sorry about that."

The committee decided to hear from Yamamoto earlier in the day, where they agreed that his action "defied common sense," but they were split on whether it was subject to punishment. The committee will decide on Tuesday whether to discipline him, taking into account the outcome of the hearing.

Meanwhile, many Cabinet ministers criticized Yamamoto on Friday.

Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Hakubun Shimomura told the day's news conference that Yamamoto appeared to have used the emperor for political purposes, urging him to resign as a lawmaker.

Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Akihiro Ota, who is the former head of the LDP's junior coalition partner New Komeito party, said Yamamoto acted inappropriately and lacked common sense as a legislator.

State minister Keiji Furuya, who supervises the country's police forces as chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, said Yamamoto's act was extremely unusual and that many Japanese people would regard it as unforgivable.

Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshitaka Shindo told the day's news conference that he feels very uncomfortable about Yamamoto's act, which he viewed as a breach of manners toward the imperial family, and said Yamamoto should have acted in a way befitting a lawmaker.

Masashi Waki, secretary general of the LDP's delegation in the upper house, said parties should consider submitting a resolution urging Yamamoto to resign as a legislator if he does not step down voluntarily.

Jin Matsubara, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan's Diet Affairs Committee, said Yamamoto's act was unforgivable.

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, said any Japanese could understand that Yamamoto's act was inexcusable, although there is no law against...LINK

Leia (em português) uma introdução à esta série de posts aqui.