Japan Press Weekly

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2015 August 12 - 18 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Local union sues city gov’t for suppression of free speech

A federation of local trade unions in Hyogo Prefecture filed a lawsuit on August 11 against the Himeji City government for forcibly breaking up an event those unions held calling for opposition to the Abe government-proposed war legislation.

On the evening of July 24, the union group held a “cultural festival” in the public square in front of Himeji Station, in solidarity with the protest action which was staged around the same time outside the prime minister’s office in Tokyo.

Soon after the festival started, city authorities suddenly revoked the permission to use the square and issued an order to stop the event. Officials in charge of management of the square repeatedly pressed the organizing committee to halt the event and remove posters demanding the resignation of the Abe Cabinet from the stage. When the organizers asked the reason for the cease order, a city official replied that this event may disturb “the public order”.

To avoid confusion, the unions complied with order and explained to the audience why the festival was being called off. Many participants complained loudly, “The city authorities are just like the Imperial Government which oppressed those opposing Japan’s war of aggression.”

After lodging the complaint with the Kobe District Court, union leader Izuta Kaoru told reporters that it goes against the postwar Constitution for a local government to control free speech. The plaintiffs and their defense counsel added that they will consider dropping their suit if the city mayor apologizes for the action taken and gives them another chance to hold a similar event.