Report on rigged meetings embarrasses Japan govt

TOKYO, Dec 13 (Reuters) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government struggled today to deal with an embarrassing report showing officials had planted questions about his pet project of education reform at public ''town meetings.'' The timing could hardly be worse for Abe, coming just days before the prime minister, beset with falling popularity, hopes to enact a law revising the aims of education to put more stress on patriotism and discipline.

According to the official report, based on investigations into the meetings, participants were coached on how to ask questions at 15 of the meetings, including six on education reform.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki told a news conference that the incidents were regrettable.

''It was really unfortunate that these meetings, which were meant to be a dialogue with the public, ended up betraying public expectations and creating distrust in the government,'' he said.

''I want to express deep apologies to the public.'' There were 174 ''town meetings'' held on various subjects since 2001, when they were launched by Abe's predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, as part of a campaign to explain policies and bring politics closer to the people.

The gatherings, halted while the investigation was going on, were typically attended by 300 to 400 members of the public as well as one or more cabinet ministers.

Abe told a parliamentary committee that he wanted to resume the meetings once all the problems were brought to light and dealt with, Kyodo news agency said.

Abe has said he hopes to pass the education bill during the current session of parliament, the current session of which is scheduled to end on Friday.

Doubts about Abe's commitment to reform have eaten away at his popularity just over two months after he took over from Koizumi. A telephone survey by public broadcaster NHK showed his support falling 11 percentage points to 48 percent, and other polls have shown similar results.

Contributing to the drop in popularity was his decision to take back into his ruling party 11 lawmakers expelled last year for opposing the party's high-priority project of privatising Japan's postal system.

Reuters BDP GC1552