一人の世界

【ソウル＝牧野愛博】北朝鮮の朝鮮中央通信は３１日、中朝国境地帯で拘束した米国人女性記者２人について「中間調査結果で不法入国と敵対行為容疑が確定 した」とし、担当機関が同容疑などを根拠に裁判で起訴する準備を続けていると伝えた。起訴方針が示されたことで、拘束が長期化する可能性が出てきた。

同通信は「証拠資料と本人たちの陳述から容疑が確定した」とした。北朝鮮関係筋は「敵対行為容疑であれば、米国が何もしない限り、拘束は長引くかもしれない」と述べた。韓国政府関係者も「政治問題になった。いつ解決するかは北と米国との交渉次第だろう」と語った。

同通信は、米国に対する北朝鮮の要求については伝えていない。ただ、「調査過程での領事接触、 募金待遇などは関連国際法に合致するようにしている」とも説明。米国との対話は拒否しない姿勢を示している。

韓国政府などによれば、２人は１７日、中国・図們市近くを流れる豆満江（中国名・図們江）を越えて北朝鮮領内に入ったところを、北朝鮮兵士に拘束されたという。

【ワシントン＝鵜飼啓】北朝鮮が米国人女性記者２人を拘束している問題で、米国務省のデギッド副報道官代行は３０日、平壌のスウェーデン大使館員が先週末、２人に個別に面会したと明らかにした。

米国は北朝鮮と国交がなく、領事業務などを代行しているスウェーデン大使館を通じて面会を申し入れていた。デギッド氏はプライバシーを理由に２人の健康状態などについては明らかにしなかった。

【ニューヨーク＝松下佳世】米南東部ノースカロライナ州カーセージの高齢者介護施設で２９日午前、銃乱射事件があり、ＡＰ通信によると８人が死亡、３人が負傷した。 募金地元当局はロバート・スチュアート容疑者（４５）を逮捕、動機を調べている。

男は同日午前１０時ごろに施設に侵入。部屋を回り、車いすのお年寄りらに銃を乱射した。施設にはアルツハイマー病の患者らが入居しており、７８～９８歳の患者ら７人と看護師１人が死亡した模様だ。

Opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa ended a guessing game about his political future Tuesday night by declaring he would stay on as president of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) even though a close aide was indicted hours earlier in a fund-raising scandal.

Minshuto executives held meetings throughout the day to discuss how to respond to the indictment of Ozawa’s state-funded aide, サーバー管理 Takanori Okubo, by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office.

Okubo faces charges that include violating the Political Fund Control Law by making false entries on political fund reports submitted on behalf of Rikuzankai, Ozawa’s political fund management organization.

Okubo served as treasurer of Rikuzankai. Prosecutors suspect Okubo listed a total of 35 million yen in donations between 2003 and 2006 as coming from two political groups headed by retired employees of Nishimatsu Construction Co. even though Okubo knew the money was actually coming from Nishimatsu.

Okubo has consistently denied the allegations since his March 3 arrest.

Ozawa had criticized the arrest, saying the case was politically motivated.

He explained earlier that he would wait to see how prosecutors proceed with the case before announcing whether he would step down as Minshuto party leader.

Prosecutors had until Tuesday as Okubo would have had to be released from detention if no criminal charges were filed.

Minshuto executives had said they expected Ozawa to remain in his post if prosecutors were unable to build a stronger case other than the one for which Okubo was arrested.

Ozawa was absent from a meeting of Minshuto executives earlier Tuesday, but he met with senior party members in the evening at Minshuto headquarters after Okubo was indicted.

Other executives had said they wanted Ozawa to remain in his post to lead the party in the next Lower House election, which must be held by September.

However, some Minshuto lawmakers had raised concerns about the public fallout from the arrest, and now indictment, of Ozawa’s aide.

Those Diet members are concerned they will be placed on the defensive when trying to counter campaign charges from the ruling coalition about a money scandal involving the Minshuto leader.

It remains unclear what the public reaction will be to Ozawa remaining as party leader now that his key aide has been indicted.(IHT/Asahi: March 25,2009)