Japan Press Weekly

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2013 December 4 - 10 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Citizens’ movement demanding abolition of secrecy law starts

Citizens at various locations across the nation are making a fresh start toward seeking the abolition of a state secrets protection law.

In Tokyo, members of the Japan Mothers’ Congress organizing committee on December 8 handed out copies of the “red slip”, the call-up-notice used in Japan during WWII, to passersby near Yurakucho and Ochanomizu stations to increase public support for the revocation of the secrets protection law which was forcibly enacted two days ago.

The “red slip” distribution campaign takes place annually on the day commemorating the start of the Pacific War as an action to remember the past in which ordinary citizens were mobilized to support Japan’s aggressive war and protest against moves to change Japan back into a war-fighting nation.

In Kyoto City, 300 citizens marched in demonstration through the city’s busy tourist area with placards that read, “We won’t stand for a police surveillance society!” Demonstrators’ shouts proclaiming, “Let’s protect freedom!” echoed through the street.

At a rally held prior to the demonstration, participants in turn expressed their determination by saying, “Today is the starting point for tenaciously demanding the elimination of the law,” and “The law will even punish people who object to government policies. Let’s spread our efforts to defend freedom and put an end to the law!”

On the next day in Okinawa’s Naha City, about 150 people held a rally in protest against the forcible enactment of the secrets law in front of the prefectural government office building. The rally was hosted by the Okinawa people’s committee against the U.S. base relocation within the prefecture which consists of the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Political Local Party of Okinawa, labor unions, and civil groups.

Nakamura Tsukasa of the Okinawa United Action Liaison Council said, “Dietmembers are required to respect and obey the Japanese Constitution. The anti-constitution secrecy legislation should be annulled.” He called on participants to work to have the law revoked.

On the same day at a press conference held in Tokyo, JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi cited an opinion poll Kyodo News conducted just after the secrecy law was enacted, and said, “This is just the beginning of a struggle against the law. We will work to scrap the law with determination and enthusiasm.”

The poll results show that 54.1% of respondents demanded that the secrets law be amended in Diet sessions including the next ordinary Diet session, while 28.2% called for the abolition of the law, totaling 82.3% opposing the law as it stands. In addition, 70.8% of respondents expressed their anxiety over the law.

Ichida said, “The JCP has argued that even if the ruling bloc succeed in railroading the law through both houses of the Diet with its majority force, it will fail to bulldoze the public into approving the law. The survey result shows this assessment to be correct.”