Japan Press Weekly

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2017 May 17 - 23 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Abe gov’t protests against UN expert’s letter critical of ‘anti-conspiracy’ bill

Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide on May 22 said to the press that the Japanese government lodged a protest against an open letter to the Prime Minister from a UN Special Rapporteur presenting a critical view of the “anti-conspiracy” bill.

The letter was recently sent to Prime Minister Abe Shinzo by Joseph Cannataci, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy. The letter stated that the controversial bill “may affect the exercise of the right to privacy as well as other fundamental public freedoms”.

Special Rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council and tasked to investigate and report on particular issues.

Suga tried to play down the authority of the Special Rapporteur. The Abe Cabinet spokesman criticized Cannataci for unilaterally sending the letter to PM Abe without providing the Japanese government an opportunity to explain the bill to the rapporteur and insisted that the letter contains inappropriate passages. However, Suga neither mentioned which part he think is improper nor made concrete counterarguments.

Later on the same day, lawyer Kaido Yuichi of a citizens’ group opposing the “anti-conspiracy” bill held a press conference in the Diet building. He said that if the government criticizes the Special Rapporteur’s letter for having incorrect content, it should provide a counterargument to the UN expert by presenting well-grounded reasons.