Defense Agency list explains why contingency legislation must be rejected -- Akahata editorial, June 5 (excerpts)

The Defense Agency has systematically examined the personal information of individuals who requested the agency's records under the Free Access to Information Law. It has even made lists of personal data on these people.

The Maritime staff office was not the only office that has made such data available online to everyone in the Defense Agency; the Ground and Air staff offices have been found to have produced similar lists.

After the Maritime staff office's list came to light and became a major issue, the agency deleted the problematic lists from the local area network (LAN) apparently in an attempt to destroy evidence of the illegal practice.

At a news conference Defense Agency officials explained that the Maritime staff office list had been compiled by one officer, denying the existence of any similar lists in other staff offices.

Built-in spying on people

The Defense Agency has kept the people under surveillance as clear from the fact that information disclosure sections of Staff Offices were staffed with intelligence officers who survey and analyze public sentiments.

Public safety is not the primary concern of the Defense Agency and the Self-Defense Forces. They are rather trying to guard themselves against the people and keep them under surveillance.

This further confirms the dangerous nature of the contingency legislation that will allow the Defense Agency to mobilize the people for war and punish anyone who refuses to obey.

In order to punish individuals who oppose war or refuse to cooperate with the government in war, the authority will need information about the types of people. For the Defense Agency to force the people into cooperating in wars, it is mandatory to place people under day-to-day watch over their moves related to their ideologies and beliefs.

Disturbingly, Prime Minister Koizumi, in complete disregard of the scandal involving the Defense Agency, has instructed the Liberal Democratic Party to gear up for the enactment of the contingency bills and all the other undemocratic bills.

Opinion surveys show that a majority of the people think that contingency legislation is not necessary.

There is no justification for parliament to get its session extended to have the unconstitutional bills passed. The people want the contingency bills scrapped. (end)