Japan Press Weekly

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2012 April 4 - 10 [CIVIL RIGHTS]

Osaka City destroys data illegally obtained regarding city workers’ political beliefs

The anger expressed in Osaka citizens’ criticism on April 6 succeeded in forcing the Osaka City government to destroy data obtained in an unlawful survey of city workers’ political beliefs.

Yamaguchi Katsutoshi, chairman of the Osaka Prefectural Committee of the Japanese Communist Party, published his comment on the same day in regard to this issue.

He concluded that the city, bing under fire from Osaka citizens, had no choice but to scrap the results of the survey that was conducted to catalog the ideological beliefs of all city workers.

He added, “It will be unacceptable for the city to attempt to sweep this issue under the rug.”

The Osaka JCP chair condemned Osaka City Mayor Hashimoto Toru for failing to admit to the unconstitutionality of the survey and apologize for his clear violation of Article 19 of the Constitution guaranteeing the right to freedom of thought and creed.

Yamaguchi stated that the JCP will grill Mayor Hashimoto in regard to what he believes to be his political responsibilities in this matter.