Japan Press Weekly

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2012 January 18 - 24 [POLITICS]

Japan-U.S. military alliance lies behind a secret protection bill

Union workers in the media industry on January 17 held a study meeting in Tokyo to discuss the danger of a “secret protection bill” that the Democratic Party of Japan is planning to submit to the next ordinary Diet session.

The Mass media Information and Culture Union (MIC), consisting of confederations or councils of unions in the newspaper, printing, broadcasting, publishing, film, advertising, music, and computer industries, hosted the event.

The “secret protection bill” will enable administrative organ heads to designate any governmental information in the category of “special secrecy” and will impose a severe punishment on information leakage.

The bill will authorize the invasion of privacy in order to determine the trustworthiness of persons who deal with secret information.

Tajima Yasuhiko, Sophia University professor, criticized the bill as obstructing news gathering activities because it will intimidate public-sector workers or potential whistle blowers into not providing information that may be in the public interest.

He said, “Not only information leaks but also attempted leaks alongside conspiracy, abetting, and agitation will be subject to penalties. This will obviously have a negative impact on the freedom of the press.”

Tajima pointed out the possibility that citizens’ information collecting and investigating activities will also be subject to control. The professor stated that behind the bill is the 2007 Japan-U.S. General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the aim to further strengthen the control of military information under the Japan-U.S. military alliance.