Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2016 February 10 - 16 [POLITICS]

Journalists’ group in statement urges internal affairs minister to step down for her remarks

The Japan Congress of Journalists (JCJ) on February 12 released a statement in protest against Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Takaichi Sanae’s remarks that suggested a possible order for broadcasters to stop airing programs, and demanded her resignation.

The minister in meetings of the House of Representatives Budget Committee on February 8 and 9 mentioned the possibility that broadcasters will be ordered to suspend their transmission on radio waves if they are judged that they repeatedly air programs lacking political neutrality.

In the statement, the JCJ insisted that the core of Takaichi’s remarks is that she argues that government authorities can screen broadcasting programs in terms of what they say and cover, and can issue penalties depending on their findings. Criticizing Takaichi for attacking the constitutional right to free speech and expression, the JCJ said that she has no qualification to act as the minister having control over broadcasting.

Citing the fact that Takaichi had a photo session with the leader of a Japanese neo-Nazi organization, the JCJ expressed their alarm following her remarks.