昨日、「兵庫県政の真相を究明する会」なる会の解散を、SAKISHIRU の新田哲史氏が公表いたしました。同会はこれまで、斎藤元彦知事を支援する立場から、斎藤知事に批判的な県会議員や市民に対し、十分な根拠を欠く情報に基づく攻撃を反復的に行ってきましたが、この度、団体としての活動停止および寄付金返金の決定を明らかにしたものです。

 解散に至る意思決定の迅速さを踏まえれば、同会が組織運営上の継続性・透明性・説明責任といった、市民団体に求められる最低限の要件を備えていなかったことは明白です。組織が脆弱であったのか、執行部の能力に重大な欠陥があったのか、理由はいくつか考えられますが、いずれにしても実態が伴わない団体であったことは、今回の結末が如実に示しています。

 振り返れば、昨年11月の知事選挙前後より、県内には斎藤元彦氏を支持する複数の「市民団体」や「活動」が乱立しました。しかしそのほとんどが短期間で瓦解しています。参加者の能力不足は外形的にも明らかですが、そもそも虚偽情報とハラスメントを基盤に知事職にしがみつく斎藤氏を支えようとする段階で、健全な市民社会における持続可能性など望むべくもありません。

  一方で、我々「兵庫県政を正常に戻す会」は、こうした短命で不透明な斎藤支持者たちの集団とは全く性質を異にします。

 当会はすでに五百名を超える会員によって構成され、県政の健全化を目的として日々継続的かつ組織的な活動を進めています。執行部は法令順守・説明責任・組織統治の原則を重視し、重要な判断にあたっては弁護士および関連分野の専門家の助言を常に受けています。また、会計については公認会計士による監査を随時実施し、財務の透明性と健全性を確保してきました。斎藤元彦氏とその支持者によって毀損された兵庫県政を立て直すためには、政治の公正性、説明責任、法令遵守、行政倫理の再建が不可欠であり、その実現のため当会は市民団体としては異例と言えるほどの統制と外部監査を徹底してまいりました。

  我々は今後も断固として戦い続けます。

 斎藤元彦県政に確実な終止符を打ち、新田氏や「兵庫県政の真相を究明する会」のような胡乱な勢力が再び公衆の前で“人間らしい顔”をして振る舞う余地がいささかも存在しない環境を作り、兵庫県政に健全性と正統性を取り戻すその日まで、我々は戦い続けます。

 今後とも当会に対し一層のご支援・ご指導・ご鞭撻を賜りますようお願い申し上げます。


Yesterday, November 22, Mr. Tetsushi Nitta of SAKISHIRU announced the dissolution of the organization styling itself the “Association for Uncovering the Truth of Hyogo Prefectural Politics.” This group, which had operated in support of Governor Motohiko Saito, repeatedly targeted prefectural assembly members and citizens critical of the Governor’s actions, relying on allegations that lacked any sufficient factual basis. The organization has now declared its decision to cease all activities and to refund the donations it had collected.

Given the speed with which the decision to dissolve was made, it is evident that the group failed to meet even the minimum standards of continuity, transparency, and accountability normally required of civic organizations. Whether its fragility stemmed from structural weakness or from serious deficiencies within its leadership, the ultimate outcome makes clear that the organization lacked substantive capacity from the outset.

Since the gubernatorial election last November, numerous “citizen groups” and “activist circles” supporting Mr. Saito have appeared across the prefecture. Most of them, however, collapsed almost immediately. Their participants’ lack of competence was evident to any observer, but the deeper reason lies elsewhere: because Mr. Saito himself maintains his political power through misinformation and harassment, the groups that rally around him naturally replicate the same tactics — and no movement built on such foundations can endure for long in any functioning civil society.

In contrast, our organization, Hyogo Citizens for the Restoration of Sound Governance, is fundamentally different from these short-lived and opaque clusters of Saito supporters.

Our association now consists of more than 500 members and continues to engage in sustained, organized activities aimed at restoring the integrity of Hyogo Prefecture’s governance. The Executive Committee places utmost importance on legal compliance, accountability, and organizational governance, and seeks continuous guidance from attorneys and relevant experts when making critical decisions. Furthermore, our financial operations undergo periodic audits by certified public accountants to ensure full transparency and integrity. Rebuilding the prefectural administration damaged by Mr. Saito and his supporters requires the restoration of political fairness, accountability, legal compliance, and administrative ethics; for that reason, we have implemented an unusually rigorous system of internal control and external oversight — exceptional for a civic organization.

We will continue this effort with unwavering resolve.

We are determined to bring a definitive end to the Saito administration and to create an environment in which Mr. Nitta and the dubious forces surrounding the so-called “Association for Uncovering the Truth” have no opportunity to appear before the public with any semblance of legitimacy. Until the day Hyogo Prefecture fully regains sound governance and rightful democratic order, we will not relent.

We respectfully ask for your continued support, guidance, and encouragement for the work of Hyogo Citizens for the Restoration of Sound Governance.