Japanese protest state-secrets law

The bill, proposed by the government of Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe, was approved by the Senate on Friday, after it was passed in the lower house.

Braving Tokyo’s cold weather, demonstrators gathered outside the parliament building, chanting anti-government slogans such as “Shame on you, Shinzo Abe.”

Under the law, public servants or others who have access to state secrets could be imprisoned for up to 10 years if they leak them.

Journalists and others in the private sector found guilty of encouraging someone to leak a state secret could be put behind bars for up to five years if they use “grossly inappropriate” means to solicit the data.

The opposition sought to stop the law, but their efforts were rejected by Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) members and their allies, who hold a majority of seats in the Senate.

Abe has said that the measure could convince Japan’s allies, mainly the United States, to share intelligence.

“This was really rushed through too fast and you have to wonder why the hurry now,” one protesters told public broadcaster NHK. “I think we’ll really regret this later.”

Based on the controversial law, government ministers are able to designate as a state secret information related to defense, diplomacy, counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism.

The bill has been condemned by critics, including media, publishers, lawyers and even entertainers, who believe that it extremely expands the definition of state secrets.

They are concerned that information embarrassing to politicians or to their patrons could easily be concealed from public view.

Adoption of the law could damage Abe’s approval rating, which, according to a recent poll, has fallen to below 50 percent.

MR/HMV

Source Article from http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/12/07/338638/japanese-protest-statesecrets-law/

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