ASAHI POLL: 76% of voters say Diet debate on secrecy law ‘insufficient’

[bananas]

Source: Asahi Shimbun

Young people protest against the state secrets protection law in a rally in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward on Dec. 7, a day after the law's passage in the Upper House. (Takaharu Yagi)

Seventy-six percent of respondents to an Asahi Shimbun survey said Diet debate on the state secrets protection law enacted late on Dec. 6 was insufficient, and 73 percent said they are worried about its arbitrary application.

The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito railroaded the legislation through the Diet, despite criticism that it could undermine the public’s right to know.

According to the nationwide survey conducted Dec. 7, only 11 percent of respondents said Diet debate on the law was “sufficient,” while 76 percent said it was “not sufficient.”

Seventy-three percent said they feel anxiety about the law being arbitrarily applied, such as concealing information that inconveniences the government. Only 18 percent said they do not feel such concern.

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Read more: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201312080020

[bananas]

1. Asahi Shimbun will continue to respond to the public's right to know

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201312070057

Asahi Shimbun will continue to respond to the public's right to know
December 07, 2013
By NOBUYUKI SUGIURA/ Managing Editor, Tokyo Head Office

The Asahi Shimbun focused on the dangers of the state secrets protection bill. Although the bill has now become law, we have no intention of stopping our efforts to point out its problems and show how it threatens the daily lives of the general public.

<snip>

During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima nuclear accident, the central government concealed information that was vital to protecting the lives and property of the people, making it impossible to use that data in a positive manner.

Under the new law, the general public will be put in a position of not even knowing what is a secret. Those who leak such “secrets” face a maximum prison term of 10 years.

<snip>

We will continue to express our opposition to this law--and we will continue with our reporting in response to the people’s right to know.

By NOBUYUKI SUGIURA/ Managing Editor, Tokyo Head Office

[bananas]

2. Photo with the editorial: Protesters rally against the state secrets protection bill

Protesters rally against the state secrets protection bill in Tokyo's Hibiya district in the evening of Dec. 6. (The Asahi Shimbun)

[Bonobo]

3. They did what Obama is TRYING to do with TPP.

It was a disgusting travesty.

[kristopher]

4. TPP is NOTHING like this law

Nor is the way the two legislative proposals are put through the process even remotely similar.

Japan is a parliamentary democracy and the LDP has a majority. That means that Abe has complete control of what happens in the legislative process - he has no opposition political party that can hinder him. The parliamentary system also means the executive and legislative functions are merged. So even his own party can't muster meaningful opposition is a manner even remotely similar to the Presidential/Congressional split here.

The only real leverage outside of the norm that Obama has in pushing the trade negotiations through the legislature is that the entire package of the negotiated deal must be either accepted or rejected. The Congress can't alter it.

They can, however, debate it until the cows come home if they so choose.

The Secrets Law that Abe has shoved through is the foundation legislation for a number of forms of dictatorship.

[Bonobo]

5. Thank you for your correction.

This is an atrocious law and the worst thing I have seen in Japanese politics in 25 years.