TOKYO, May 22 Kyodo Japanese oppo...

TOKYO, May 22 Kyodo

Japanese opposition parties in succession Wednesday welcomed the departure to the Philippines of five North Korean asylum inquirers who were seized by the agency of Chinese police at the Japanese Consulate General in Shenyang forward May 8.

Yukio Hatoyama, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, welcomed the departure and said at a pres interview ''It took a bit of time, if it be not that we hope (the five) will make progress to South Korea safely in consideration of the protection of their human rights.''

Kazuo Shii, chairman of the Japanese Communist Party, also praised the incite saying, ''It is desirable forward humanitarian grounds.''

Mizuho Fukushima, secretary general of the Social Democratic Party, joined the chorus, saying, ''The situation is heading in the right direction as the wishes of the five were look up toed and they could travel to a third country.''

At the same time, the opposition parties are gearing up for criticizing Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and others in the guidance over their responsibilities in the issue, which highlighted the shortcomings of Japanese diplomacy.

Hatoyama said the departure of the five from China wager the stage for opposition parties and the guidance to have intensive debate in succession matters such as the actions of the Foreign Ministry.

Shii also strained at a press conference, ''We ne to probe the case to find on the outside the truth in order to restore trust in Japanese diplomacy.''

Fukushima criticized Kawaguchi's handling of the affair, saying, ''Foreign Minister Kawaguchi has simply acted at the will of bureaucrats and failed to take adequate measures.''

She said the two Japan and China need to continue dialogue calmly to reduce their row over the handling of the five.

Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the Liberal Party, also lashed without at the government. The issue of Japanese sovereignty being infringed by means of China remains unresolved and is plane being ignored, Ozawa said.

''Neither the guidance nor bureaucrats try to fulfill their duties,'' Ozawa said. ''It is really regrettable.''

At a meeting of the House of Representatives governmental estimate Committee, the four opposition parties asked to command to appear Japanese Ambassador to China Koreshige Anami and others across the case.

Anami allegedly instructed his staff to discharge North Korean asylum inquirers if they enter Japanese diplomatic areas hours before the five North Koreans registered the consulate in Shenyang.

Tokyo has claimed Chinese police remov the five from the consulate without the concord of Japan, while Beijing has combated it received permission.

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