Opposition seeks Ishiba's resignation

Opposition parties Thursday demanded Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba step down to take responsibility for Tuesday's collision of a Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis destroyer with a fishing boat.

Yukio Hatoyama, secretary-general of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), told reporters: "I hope (Ishiba) becomes more seriously aware of the gravity of his responsibility. He should resign immediately."

Hatoyama indicated that if Ishiba did not resign or was not dismissed by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Minshuto would submit a censure motion in the Upper House.

"If he continues to hold out, I believe there is a sufficient possibility that the opposition parties would exercise their power in the Upper House, where we have a majority," Hatoyama said.

Social Democratic Party executives also met Thursday and decided to seek Ishiba's resignation.

The government and ruling coalition are so far standing behind Ishiba.

Fukuda hosted a luncheon of Cabinet ministers Wednesday at which Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura reportedly told Ishiba: "Not only the defense minister, but the chief Cabinet secretary and the prime minister also must bear responsibility. We are not at the stage where we have to think of such issues. Please do not worry."

Kazuo Kitagawa, secretary-general of junior coalition partner New Komeito, said, "It is the role and responsibility of the defense minister to find out what caused the accident and to implement measures to prevent a recurrence."

Two fishermen were still missing Thursday after the destroyer cut their boat in two.

In the past, incidents involving the Self-Defense Forces have led the heads of what was then the Defense Agency to resign.

That was the case in 1971, when an SDF jet collided in mid-air with an All Nippon Airways Co. plane, as well as in 1988 when an MSDF submarine rammed a fishing boat. (IHT/Asahi: February 22,2008)