February 22, 2014
Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Akamine Seiken has revealed that the state secrecy law allows Prime Minister Abe Shinzo to designate administrative information as state secrets and also endorse the validity of his decision on his own.
Akamine questioned the government on February 21 at a House Cabinet Committee meeting about the state secrets protection law which the ruling coalition rammed through the Diet in December.
According to the law, chairs of administrative bodies classify state information and then three “independent organizations” set up within the administration assess the appropriateness of the classification.
In reply to Akamine’s questions, Mori Masako, the minister in charge of the secrecy act, said that the prime minister is supposed to classify the information regarding Japan’s National Security Council (NSC) and images from spy satellites, which are said to account for the largest part of state secrets. Mori added that the PM also has the right to supervise the three “third-party” organizations.
Akamine pointed out, “This in essence means that the prime minister will designate administrative information as state secrets at will and will be in position to determine if his decision is appropriate or not all by himself.” Mori was unable to refute Akamine’s assertion.
The JCP representative strongly demanded the repeal of the law, stressing that the legislation cannot prevent the premier from having arbitrary control over the designation of secret state information.
Past related article:
> Journalists call for joint action to demand revocation of secrecy law [January 15, 2014]
Akamine questioned the government on February 21 at a House Cabinet Committee meeting about the state secrets protection law which the ruling coalition rammed through the Diet in December.
According to the law, chairs of administrative bodies classify state information and then three “independent organizations” set up within the administration assess the appropriateness of the classification.
In reply to Akamine’s questions, Mori Masako, the minister in charge of the secrecy act, said that the prime minister is supposed to classify the information regarding Japan’s National Security Council (NSC) and images from spy satellites, which are said to account for the largest part of state secrets. Mori added that the PM also has the right to supervise the three “third-party” organizations.
Akamine pointed out, “This in essence means that the prime minister will designate administrative information as state secrets at will and will be in position to determine if his decision is appropriate or not all by himself.” Mori was unable to refute Akamine’s assertion.
The JCP representative strongly demanded the repeal of the law, stressing that the legislation cannot prevent the premier from having arbitrary control over the designation of secret state information.
Past related article:
> Journalists call for joint action to demand revocation of secrecy law [January 15, 2014]
