Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2017 December 6 - 12 [POLITICS]

Opposition parties submit joint bills to end anti-conspiracy, casino laws

The four opposition parties - Japanese Communist, Constitutional Democratic (CDPJ), Liberal, and Social Democratic parties plus a group of Lower House independents on December 6 jointly submitted to the House of Representatives bills to scrap the anti-conspiracy law and the act for the promotion of casinos.

They argue that under the anti-conspiracy law, the definitions of organized crime syndicates, preparations for crimes, or criminal plots are so vague that investigative authorities could arbitrarily use it. They also claim that the law is unconstitutional as it violates the people's right to freedom of thought.

JCP legislator Fujino Yasufuni, a co-sponsor of the bill, said, "It is significant that the opposition parties agreed to work together on the joint bill submission. We will cooperate even more closely in order to abolish the law."

The latter law legalizes casino gambling which the Penal Code prohibits. The opposition force will also work together to abolish this law.

A list of the joint bill proposers includes JCP lawmakers Kasai Akira and Shiokawa Tetsuya. Kasai said, "The JCP will keep cooperating with other opposition parties on this issue."

Moreover, joined by the Democratic Party and the Party of Hope, the four-party alliance made representations to Health and Welfare Minister Kato Katsunobu and demanded that the ministry improve social welfare programs.

They highlighted the need to increase government remuneration paid for medical and nursing-care service providers as well as the need to improve the working conditions of workers in medical institutions and care facilities. JCP representative Takahashi Chizuko took part in this concerted action.

* * *

Lawyers look to opposition parties' joint bill to scrap casino law

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations at the House of Councilors members' office building on December 5 held a session to oppose the controversial lifting of the ban on casino gambling.

JCP member of the Upper House Daimon Mikishi and Lower House member Nagatsuma Akira of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) delivered a speeches on behalf of respective parties. When they reported that the opposition parties will soon submit to the Diet a bill to repeal the casino promotion law, many lawyers welcomed the resurgence of the opposition parties' unified struggle.

Past related article:
> Strengthen public movement to abolish unconstitutional ‘anti-conspiracy law’[June 16, 2017]