Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

Punishment for dissident lawmakers

TOKYO, Japan - Koichiro Watanabe (2nd from L) and other lower house members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan hold a press conference in the Diet building in Tokyo on March 1, 2011, after the party leadership decided to punish them for skipping voting on the budget plan for fiscal 2011 during a plenary session of the House of Representatives earlier in the day. Watanabe, who led the rebellion, had his party membership suspended for six months while the 15 other dissident lawmakers were reprimanded. (Kyodo)