Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2012 October 17 - 23 [CIVIL RIGHTS]

Osaka Ishin no Kai seeks tighter restrictions on prefectural government workers’ political activities

Osaka Ishin no Kai on October 19 submitted to the prefectural assembly an ordinance bill to impose tighter limitations on political activities of Osaka prefectural government employees.

The bill, if enacted, prohibits prefectural government workers from taking part in 10 political activities, including: to organize demonstrations for political ends; to present political opinions on public occasions such as rallies; to stage political dramas; or to create and wear armbands and badges showing political messages.

Violators will receive punishments ranging from wage-cuts and suspension of employment to dismissal.

The Association for Democratic Law on October 12 issued a statement criticizing the bill for placing unjust limitations on the freedom of political activities by citizens guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution, and called on the prefectural assembly to not enact the bill.

As for the Osaka city government employees, the Ishin no Kai, Liberal Democratic, and Komei parties of the Osaka City Assembly in July bulldozed through the city ordinance bill imposing a similar ban on city workers’ political activities.