Apr 16 09:55 AM US/Eastern
TOKYO, April 16 (AP) - (Kyodo) — A nongovernmental forum aimed at promoting political reform in Japan on Friday harshly criticized the government of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama for failing in its policy of reforming the country's bureaucracy-oriented politics.
The Congressional Forum for New Japan, known as 21st Century Rincho, said in a set of written proposals that a number of Japanese have begun to question Hatoyama's leadership and such a situation is "extremely serious."
Referring to the government's emphasis on the power of politicians over bureaucrats, the forum said efforts to realize the policy have not been successful due to the "inexperience of the Democratic Party of Japan and its lack of preparation" for running a government.
Among proposals to help smooth out the system of running the government, the forum calls for Hatoyama to "unify the leadership of the government and the ruling party," while recommending that the roles of top politicians and other bureaucrats be clarified at each ministry.
The DPJ's policy platform for last year's general election that swept the party into power "has proven insufficient" in both substance and the process of policymaking, the forum said, noting that it should be reviewed and presented to the voters again ahead of this summer's upper house election.
The forum is made up of about 150 people from a various range of fields, including business and academic circles, media organizations, freelance journalists, labor unions, lawyers and nonprofit organizations.
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