Citizens' criticism ousts anti-demonstration clause

The "public nuisance prevention ordinance" bill, proposed by the Tokyo Government to allow police to control citizens' movements, was adopted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly on June 21, with the deletion of the undemocratic clause.

In the name of banning "stalking," the Tokyo Government's bill controls actions of protest or petition by citizens and trade unions and news coverage by the media. If the bill had been approved intact, protest against dismissals and unfair labor practices, against wicked traders, public pollution, medicine-related diseases, and damage from military bases as well as collecting data of such action for the newspaper would have been restricted.

Public opinion in opposition to the bill reneging on fundamental human rights and democracy rapidly increased. The Tokyo Government faced objection from 497 organizations.

In the Tokyo Assembly committee meeting, Japanese Communist Party assembly member Akita Kakuo stated that the clause which divides anger into legal and illegal categories should be deleted. The committee unanimously adopted an amendment calling for deletion of the clause banning stalking.

It is the first time in the Tokyo Government's history that an ordinance related to police has ever been deleted or amended. (end)