Regarding the Feb. 23 article "DPJ suspends Ozawa; Kan hints at election": As Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Hiroshi Kawauchi is one of my local representatives in the Diet, I read with some interest Kawauchi's condemnation of the suspension of former party chief Ichiro Ozawa's membership in the DPJ (pending the outcome of Ozawa's trial on charges of conspiring to falsify political funds reports).

Kawauchi is quoted as saying: "This will (seriously) affect party unity . . . I would make a formal objection if I were Ozawa." Strong words. They lead me to wonder just how much money Kawauchi received from Ozawa for his election campaign in 2009, and how much longer it will be before the party leaders tell him that if he disagrees with their decisions, he has no place in the DPJ either.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan should realize that Kawauchi, and others like him, are not in the DPJ because of political convictions, but because of Ozawa's (backing). I would not be too upset if a snap election were called and Ozawa's supporters all lost their seats, even if the Liberal Democratic Party took power again, because quite honestly the DPJ and the Diet are better off without such people.

simon foston