JAPAN: Thousands form a human chain around Japan parliament in protest against the State Secrets Act, soon to be approved by the upper house

Record ID: 266322

  • Title: JAPAN: Thousands form a human chain around Japan parliament in protest against the State Secrets Act, soon to be approved by the upper house
  • Date: 4th December 2013
  • Summary: MONKS AND PROTESTERS BANGING DRUMS MONK HITTING DRUM
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA51A79ECW5HNSA8HX2SW72MHEN
  • Story Text: Thousands of protesters gathered outside Japanese parliament on Wednesday (December 4) to demonstrate against the legislation about to pass this week that would expand the definition of state secrets and raise penalties for leaks.
    This provision, critics say, will block access to information on sensitive areas, including the nuclear industry.
    The state secrets act the bill now goes before parliament's upper house after it passed the lower house last week and where it is likely to pass without difficulty due to the ruling majority in both houses.

    "Despite the strong public opinion against it, the government is forcing the passage of the bill. We can never accept it." said one protester, Tomiko Suzuki.
    According to opinion polls, more voters oppose the bill than back it. Nearly 63 percent of respondents to a Kyodo news agency survey expressed concerned about its provisions.
    As a way of demonstrating strong public opinion against the bill hundreds of protesters gathered to form a 'human chain' around parliament.

    "The bill-reviewing sessionon the 6th, so we're determined to block it until then." said one protester, Keiko Nakamori.
    Media, publishers, lawyers and even monks have come out to denounce the law, which for some has conjured up memories of Japan's harsh state secrecy regime before and during World War Two.
    Protestors said the public will remember this law in the next election.

    "We will punish the regime that passes this bill in the upcoming election."said another protester, Shuichi Tasaki.
    Top officials in all ministries will be able to designate special state secrets in four categories - defence, diplomacy, counter-terrorism and counter-espionage - that can be kept secret for up to 60 years and in some cases longer.
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