In August 2005, 37 Liberal Democratic Party members held their heads high as they voted against LDP President and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's bills to privatize the postal system, legislation they felt was being forced on them.

Their "betrayal" cost them their party membership, and when the general election was held the following month, the LDP ran others on its ticket in their place, many successfully.

More than a year has passed and 11 of the postal reform rebels have begged their way back into the party -- and the LDP on Monday officially approved their comeback to the party -- a move many of the newcomers see as a betrayal of them.