2010 April 7 - 13 [
SDF]
DPJ sees SDF monitoring of public as reasonable
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April 10, 2010
A bill to increase the number of Self Defense Force intelligence agents to routinely monitor the public was adopted in the House of Representatives plenary session with a majority vote on April 13. The Japanese Communist Party voted against the bill.
This shows that the Democratic Party of Japan-led government is acknowledging the SDF monitoring of the public as reasonable and intends to strengthen such activities.
At a meeting of the House of Representatives Security Committee on April 9, JCP representative Akamine Seiken asked, “Increasing the number of SDF agents in the information security unit means that the current government allows the SDF to monitor the public, doesn’t it?”
Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister of Defense Shinba Katsuya in his reply said, “The SDF information security unit is an extremely useful organ. The unit complies with relevant laws when taking photographs, for example, at demonstrations.”
Criticizing Shinba’s reply, Akamine stated, “I’m astonished at your remark which openly admits the SDF monitoring of people at peaceful public gatherings. It is very grave that the government tolerates SDF activities that violate the constitutional freedom of expression under Article 21 and privacy of individuals under Article 13.”
In June 2007, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo revealed that the Ground Defense Force’s information security unit monitored and recorded all popular movements, including movements opposing the SDF dispatch to Iraq and the consumption tax hike, on a daily basis.”
- Akahata, April 10, 2010
