Thousands protest against tough new official secrets law in Japan

[bananas]

Source: Reuters

Thousands of people protested in Tokyo on Thursday against a proposed secrets act that critics say would stifle information on issues such as the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

The law, proposed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government, would significantly broaden the definition of official secrets, which Abe says is vital for strengthening security cooperation with main ally the United States and other countries.

Tough secrecy regulations before and during World War Two have long made such legislation taboo, but the law is expected to pass when it comes to a vote next week, given the comfortable majority the ruling coalition has in both houses of parliament.

"Without the right to know, democracy cannot exist," said Yasunari Fujimoto, from the Peace Forum citizen's group, who spoke at the protest in a park near parliament.

"If this law comes to pass, our constitution is nothing more than a scrap of paper."

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/22/us-japan-secrets-idUSBRE9AL04420131122

[Enthusiast]

1. Are they trying to copy the USA?

Sick

[jtuck004]

2. Can't have a TPP behind closed doors with all that openess lying around...

Btw - Japan just announced that the 25% reduction they were going to have in carbon emissions is out the window. Instead, on the target date, it will be 3% more, because they will be burning coal instead of generating electricity with nuclear power.

It's too bad. They have a plan on the table to construct turbines offshore, and with such a huge area in the ocean around them for such construction, it seems like an ideal place. Instead gonna choke things up a bit more.

[newfie11]

3. Without the right to know, democracy cannot exist,"

Something we need to remember here in America!

[Kelvin Mace]

4. "Abe says is vital for strengthening security cooperation with main ally the United States"

Translation: "We want to be a police state just like the U.S."

[Ash_F]

5. Interesting that photo seems to be mostly older folks

You don't see that too often in protests against a conservative government. At least, not in America.

[tblue]

6. Welcome to our world.

I feel so sorry for the people of Japan. Their govt is blowing it because, obviously, it had an awful lot to hide.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. "If this law comes to pass, our constitution is nothing more than a scrap of paper."

Welcome to our world, Fujimoto san.
Britain is trying to pass a law limiting what newspapers can report, so they are 6 Swaztikas ahead of us.
I expect an increase in news censorship here soon.
Meanwhile, North Korea is happily observing our attempts to catch up to its veil of blackness.

Guess I will send off a few more bucks to Wikileaks.

[blkmusclmachine]

8. One World Government