Japan Press Weekly

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2014 June 11 - 17 [POLITICS]

JCP proposes bill to abolish State Secrets Protection Law

While the ruling coalition is gearing up for the enforcement of the State Secrets Protection Law, the Japanese Communist Party on June 16 submitted to the Diet a bill to revoke the law jointly with the Social Democratic Party and independents.

The Abe Cabinet in December last year forcibly established the secrets law in defiance of fierce opposition from a wide range of citizens claiming that it will infringe on the people’s right to know.

The ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties in the current Diet session proposed a bill to set up a closed committee in the Diet in regard to the enforcement of the secrecy law. The bill was passed through the House of Representatives on June 13.

JCP Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki at a press conference held after the submission of the bill stated that people’s voices protesting against the controversial law are increasing even after its enactment last December. He expressed his determination to push the bill through the Diet to annul the secrecy law in line with public demand. The JCP will call on other political parties and independent Dietmembers to support the bill, Yamashita added.