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JCP revelation of SDF surveillance of the public receives widespread press coverage
The revelation by the Japanese Communist Party of the Self-Defense Forcesf illegal surveillance activity of the public as well as various popular movements received widespread media coverage.
The Asahi Shimbun, a national paper, on June 7 reported JCP Chair Shii Kazuofs news conference statement that revealed the SDF intelligence security unitfs internal documents on its front page. It also ran an editorial entitled gSDF monitors civilians,h stating, gBefore World War II in Japan, military police gradually started to monitor citizens and changed into an organization that suppressed freedom.h
Recalling that gthe ruling Liberal Democratic Party is proposing a constitutional revision to change the SDF into ga self-defense military,h the Asahi editorial said, gWhat we must not forget is the historical lesson that armed organizations have a tendency to transform into a security force to keep an eye on citizens.h
In an unusual move, most local newspapers throughout the country also criticized the Self-Defense Forces for conducting illegal monitoring of citizens.
Critical editorials were run by the nationfs major local papers, including the Hokkaido Shimbun Press, the Kahoku Shimpo, the Niigata Nippo, the Tokyo Shimbun (the Chunichi Shimbun, the Hokuriku Chunichi Shimbun), the Shinano-Mainichi Shimbun, the Kobe Shimbun, the Chugoku Shimbun, the Kochi Shimbun, the Nishinippon Shimbun, the Okinawa Times, and the Ryukyu Shimpo.
The Hokkaido Shimbun editorial said, gIt (SDF monitoring of the public) is an act threatening peoplefs constitutional rights: the freedom of assembly and association, speech, the press, and expression, and the right to privacy.h
The Tokyo Shimbun said, gThe SDF, an armed organization, is duty-bound to strictly maintain political neutrality. For the SDF to monitor particular persons or organizations from a biased viewpoint is a major deviation from their mission and authority.h
The Nishinippon Shimbun said, gThose who experienced the Pacific War may have recalled the terms emilitary policef and the especial higher policef that suppressed the freedom of speech and activities that were deemed to be hamper the prosecution of the war.h
The Ryukyu Shimpo, Okinawafs local paper, reported citizensf voices. One said, gIt (the SDF monitoring of citizens) is like the especial higher policef reviving,h and another, gI shuddered at the news that suggests a return to the prewar days.h
Criticizing Defense Minister Kyuma Fumio and Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki Yasuhisa for taking it for granted that the SDF carries out such monitoring, the Hokkaido Shimbun stated, gIt seems that they do not understand how grave the matter is.h
Pointing to the SDF unit monitoring various movements on such issues as medical reform and pension reform as well the labor Spring Struggle, the Kobe Shimbun warned, gWe cannot deny the possibility that the SDF unit has been emonitoringf various public movements related to living conditions.h - Akahata, June 9, 2007
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