Japan Secrecy Law Stirs Fear of Limits on Freedoms

[bananas]

Source: Associated Press

Japan's more powerful lower house of Parliament approved a state secrecy bill late Tuesday that imposes stiffer penalties on bureaucrats who leak secrets and journalists who seek them, despite criticism the government is making a heavy-handed effort to hide what it's doing and suppress press freedom.

The public is concerned because the government won't say exactly what becomes secret. Critics say the law could allow the government to withhold more information and ultimately undermine Japan's democracy.

The bill was approved after hours of delay due to protests by opposition lawmakers. The ruling block and its supporters hope the weaker upper house will pass the legislation next month.

The ruling party says the law is needed to encourage the United States and other allies to share national security information with Japan. With the creation of a U.S.-style National Security Council in his office, it is part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to strengthen Japan's role in global security and create a more authoritarian government at home.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/japan-secrecy-law-stirs-fear-limits-freedoms-21013309

[kristopher]

1. At Fukushima hearing, all speakers criticize state secrets bill

At Fukushima hearing, all speakers criticize state secrets bill
November 26, 2013
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

FUKUSHIMA--The ruling Liberal Democratic Party invited Namie Mayor Tamotsu Baba to speak about the state secrets protection bill, expecting support by a leader near the Fukushima nuclear disaster site to quell criticism against the legislation.

The party’s plan, however, backfired.

“I am afraid no clear bounds were established about what should be designated a state secret,” Baba told a hearing on the bill here on Nov. 25. He also said he cannot trust a government that tends to keep information under wraps.

In fact, all seven speakers at the hearing criticized the bill, saying its ambiguous wording leaves open the possibility of abuse and its harsh penalties could keep citizens in the dark about matters that directly affect their lives.

The ruling coalition, which railroaded the bill through a Lower House committee on Nov. 26, organized...

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201311260068

[Kelvin Mace]

2. Freedom is SO 20th Century

Move along, nothing to see...

[Octafish]

3. TEPCO thanks you.

And the Yakuza, too.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. I don't think it's yakuza so much

I get the idea that it has more to do with not only Fukushima, but also with details about TPP leaking out.

At any rate, it is all extremely disquieting

[blkmusclmachine]

4. And no phony 9/11 excuse to fall back on, either.

[kristopher]

6. Japan's conservative govt set to restart nuclear propaganda campaign

Gov't eyes reinforcement of publicity activities on nuclear power

(Globalpost/GlobalPost)

The government plans to stipulate in its long-term energy plan that publicity activities on nuclear power should be reinforced, although not in a way that will lead Japan to be stuck in a "safety myth" as seen before the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis, a document obtained by Kyodo News showed Tuesday.

In the document, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, which is in charge of devising the plan, said it will place importance on providing "information based on objective facts or scientific evidence, such as safety and economic efficiency."

The government has been restrained in behavior toward publicizing nuclear power after the devastating accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Daiichi power plant raised concerns among the public over the use of nuclear reactors.

...

...While admitting that past publicity activities had contributed to creating a myth that nuclear power is safe, the ministry said it is important to provide scientific information and enhance education on nuclear issues, targeting various age groups.

...

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/131126/govt-eyes-reinforcement-publicity-activities-nuclear-p


See also

INSIGHT: ‘Troika of irresponsibility’ behind Fukushima water crisis

By YASUAKI OSHIKA/ Staff Writer
Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s shortcomings, the Finance Ministry’s stubbornness and the industry ministry’s need for a scapegoat combined to create the radioactive water crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

And while the three key players refuse to be held accountable for Japan’s worst nuclear disaster, this “troika of irresponsibility” is still bickering over the cleanup process as contaminated water continues to leak into the plant ground and the ocean.

The risks of radioactive water leaks were known months after the plant was rocked by the Great East Japan Earthquake and swamped by the ensuing tsunami on March 11, 2011.

Plans to contain the potential water problem were drawn up at the time. But TEPCO was unwilling to spend money on such measures, some of which were adopted two years later by the government...

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201311250074