Japan Press Weekly

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2015 June 17 - 23 [POLITICS]

Local bar association heads: war bills are unconstitutional

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) on June 19 sent a written statement recognizing the security-related legislation dubbed war laws as unconstitutional to Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide, the foreign and defense ministers, and the speakers of both chambers of the Diet.

The statement was unanimously adopted in a JFBA board meeting held on the previous day with 85 bar executives including all the 52 presidents of local bar associations present.

The statement points out that the war bills run directly counter to the fundamental role of constitutionalism as well as the pacifism which the Article 9 of the Constitution embodies. Emphasizing that the bills also violate the right to live in peace and the principle of popular sovereignty guaranteed by the Constitution, the statement opposes the war legislation which is under Diet deliberation at the moment.

The JFBA already issued a statement in the name of its president Murakoshi Susumu protesting the Cabinet approval of the bills on May 15. The JFBA General Meeting on May 29 adopted a declaration to oppose the security-related legislation and protect peace, human rights, and constitutionalism, and many lawyers took part in a rally against the war bills held in the Diet building on the same day.

Past related articles:
> JCP & JFBA confirm cooperation to block war legislation [May 16, 2015]
> JFBA opposes ominous moves toward war[October 9, 2014]
>Japan bar association organizes demonstration against the collective self-defense right [July 18, 2014]
> JCP and lawyers say ‘No’ to Japan’s use of collective self-defense right [May 22, 2014]