Japan Press Weekly

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2013 October 2 - 8 [POLITICS]

Bar association opposes bill to protect ‘secret information’

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations on October 3 released its president’s statement in protest against a bill to protect secret information the Abe Cabinet plans to submit to an extraordinary Diet session starting this month.

The bill is to punish those who leak information designated as confidential by authorities as well as to overly restrict its release to the Diet.

Pointing out that the bill, if enacted, will bring about grave impacts on the sovereignty of the people and their rights, JFBA President Yamagishi Kenji in his statement criticized the Abe Cabinet for going ahead with procedures to get it enacted without obtaining public consensus.

The bill contains many issues which the JFBA has repeatedly questioned, the statement says, including an unclear definition of “secret information” that could cover a broad range of information and possible restriction of people’s right to know. It states that the bill will undermine the basis of the governing structure set under the Constitution.

The statement also expresses concerns over the further centralization of police organizations and an intimidation of the press.

Past related articles:
> No need for ‘secrets protection’ legislation in Japan: PEN club [September 18, 2013]
> Bill to protect secret information violates people’s right to know [September 6, 2013]