Japan Press Weekly

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2017 May 17 - 23 [POLITICS]

Protests against forced passage of ‘anti-conspiracy’ bill take place nationwide

Despite summer-like high temperatures during the weekend, concerned citizens on May 21 held rallies and demonstrations at various locations across Japan, including Fukushima, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Nagano, and Osaka to protest against the Abe administration rushing headlong into the enactment of the controversial “anti-conspiracy” bill.

The ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties with help from the Nippon Ishin no Kai steamrollered the bill through the House of Representatives Judicial Affairs Committee two days earlier.

In Tokyo, holding placards and banners that read “Protect our dignity and liberty!”, 1,800 young people marched in demonstration through the busy streets in the Shinjuku district. Following the rhythm from a leading pickup truck, the participants shouted in chorus, “Do not destroy Article 9!” and “Keep the Constitution, Change the government!”

This action was called for by the organizing committee consisting of youth groups such as the Democratic Youth League of Japan.

At a rally before the anti-Abe government march, DYLJ Chair Koyama Minoru in his speech stressed the need to increase public support to put an end to the Abe government which flagrantly disregards the supreme law.

Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Tamura Tomoko gave a speech in solidarity, and said, “Let’s defend our rights to freedom of thought and freedom of speech.”

A 39-year old man with his eight-month old daughter participated in the demonstration. He said, “I really feel alarmed by the Abe government seeking to bulldoze through the ‘anti-conspiracy’ bill. I’ll do my best in order to hand down a better society to our children.”

In Osaka, a lawyers’ organization held a rally with 4,000 people participating.

Osaka Bar Association President Ohara Masatoshi in his opening speech criticized the government proposal to criminalize conspiracy for conflicting with fundamental principles of the Criminal Code. Protesting against the ruling parties’ use of their majority to ram through the bill, Ohara called on the participants to increase efforts to have the bill scrapped.

JCP member of the House of Councilors Tatsumi Kotaro expressed his determination to work hard to further develop joint struggles against the anti-human rights bill with concerned citizens and united opposition parties and to bring down the Abe government.

Past related articles:
> New action against ‘anti-conspiracy bill’ starts outside Diet [May 10, 2017]
> Media workers issue statement opposing ‘anti-conspiracy bill’ [April 28, 2017]