Japan Govt to Submit Bill for Unification Church Victims

Tokyo, Nov. 8 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday that his government will submit a bill intended to help victims of the religious group known as the Unification Church to parliament during its current session.

Kishida, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, unveiled the plan after reaching an agreement with Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition partner.

The bill will seek to establish a new law to prevent malicious requests for donations. The government and the ruling bloc had been reluctant to submit such legislation to the current parliamentary session set to end on Dec. 10.

But Kishida changed course apparently in view of public opinions. After the meeting with Yamaguchi, Kishida told reporters that the government aims to enact the bill early.

The Unification Church has been known for selling goods to members at high prices and collecting massive donations. It came under the spotlight after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead in July by a man motivated by Abe's alleged links to the group.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]