Government Compiles Relief Measures for Victims of the Unification Church, Opposition Demand Accountability
The Japanese government announced relief measures for victims of the Unification Church following a Tokyo High Court ruling to dissolve the organization, while opposition parties demanded accountability from ruling party members connected to the church.
On October 4th, the Tokyo High Court issued a ruling to dissolve the Unification Church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. In response, Japan's government and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration have begun compiling relief measures for victims of the church's practices. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated that the government interprets the court's decision as a validation of its claims against the organization. The government has instructed relevant ministries to thoroughly respond to the needs of the victims.
As part of the relief strategy, the government convened a meeting of relevant cabinet members to discuss necessary actions, such as publicizing the procedures for liquidation of church assets, gathering information about the church's financial status, and addressing any potential obstructions to the liquidation process. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki asserted the party's stance of having no ties with the Unification Church and promised to avoid any undue political influence from the organization.
In contrast, opposition leaders, including the representative of the Center-Left Reform Union, Junya Ogawa, criticized the ruling party, questioning the close ties of its members with the church. They called for thorough investigations by all political figures connected to the Unification Church and demanded that accountability be accepted, emphasizing the need for transparency from the ruling party regarding its associations with the organization.