Japan Press Weekly

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2022 September 21 - 27 [POLITICS]

JCP Koike protests against law to surveil residents living in vicinity of bases

The land-restriction law which restricts the use of land in the vicinity of military facilities and surveils the general public living in such areas came into force on September 20. Concerns are growing in localities, including Okinawa, where military bases are located.

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira at a press conference held in the Diet building on the same day said that he will continue to work to rescind the law in the Diet.

Koike explained that the JCP has been pointing out that the law will restrict people's property rights and could have a serious effect on real-estate dealings. He criticized the government for forcibly putting the law into practice without taking into account the many concerns voiced during the public comment period, and demanded that the law be repealed.

The law in question designates isolated islands in addition to areas within a 1-kilometer radius from U.S. military bases, Self-Defense Forces bases, and nuclear power plants as "observed areas". The law allows authorities to monitor landowners and users of the land and to collect their information. If recognizing an "act that obstructs the functions" of these facilities, authorities can advise or order suspension of the use of the land.

The law, however, does not specify what kind of act could constitute an "act that obstructs functions", leaving the judgement to the prime minister. On top of that, the law encourages tip-offs and surveillance of neighbors on the pretext of "information gathering".

Past related article:
> Land control bill to surveil residents living near bases becomes law [June 17, 2021]