politics

Abe defends state secret law, but says he could have explained it better

41 Comments

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Exactly, well said.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I don't think many people inside or out of Japan realize how precious their democratic constitution is. This law laughs in the face of the freedom of the press and academic freedom, both of which are necessary to prevent tyrants like Abe from becoming the next Hitler. The first two elections were deemed unconstitutional by the Japanese Supreme Court, yet they were ignored. Now, this. It is a constitutional crisis, and you can be sure this power will be used to enrich the 1% and to send the 99% to war, all without you knowing what has happened before it is too late.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

And Elvis was spotted at graceland, and aliens landed on the moon. Yeah right!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

If Abe says this law is good for Japan then it must be good for all and it may help to sniff out illegal activities of some citizens.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

He could have explained it better.

Well, I'm waiting.

This is like someone who borrowed a lot of money from you walking up to you and saying, "I could have paid you back yesterday." Then walking away leaving you still empty handed. Is there even a word for such a person?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

John,

I would say even only the word "protect" exiting a politician's mouth and you know you're dealing with an outright liar. Oh, and whenever laws are rushed through... Well, no need for words.

In a democracy, there should be openness and discussion. I think it's good to know that Japan doesn't believe in these things.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

He can't explain it, that's a secret!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

All Japan need to is sit down with China and say, lets work something out. Itll certainly make them look more favourable in their dispute with South Korea over Takeshima / Dokdo, and the Russians over the northern territories. Japan is refusing to negotiate with China over sovereignty, thus South Korea and Russia have no incentive for negotiating with Japan over the territories they hold

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Just a wild conspiracy theory,

but maybe the result of the Biden chat with China was that they will 'Take' the Senkaku (and the south China Sea Islands too), and there is nothing the USA will be able to do to stop it (since the USA is too scared anyways to mess seriously with China it seems..throwing in the towel saying the Airlines should report plans to China (in days of yore, they would have said 'touch any of our planes and it would be a hail of B52s... but not in 2013 anymore..)

So it means Japan needs a new deterrent to prevent losing the islands (and then getting invaded outright by the PLA)... that means one thing.... Nukes...

Politically unacceptable at this time, but everyone (USA, Abe..etc.), know that is what Japan needs.. Nukes so China takes Japan seriously and doesn't invade.. On the US bases, or elsewhere in the country. Then later once set up, it is a 'fait accompli'...

Also would explain the rush, as China probably is about to take the islands any month now and there isn't a thing the US or Japan have any confidence to do about it..

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Aussie-musashiJapan cant hide info from the IAEA without exiting a coupld of treaties.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

“In order to protect people’s lives and property, it was necessary to pass the special secrecy law as quickly as possible.”

You know how you know something is bullcrap? When it's to "protect" the people, has the word "secret," it's "necessary," and it has to be "quick." If anything good comes from this for the average citizen, I'll eat my shorts.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

A big deal? In light of Japans history of covering up information, and their government misleading their citizens, I dont think so. We must also not forget the Olympics are coming to Tokyo, and the government now has the power to censor what information is given about the situation at Fukushima. No, in light of Japan`s background, people are justified in their concern

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Well there are other democracies who have state secret laws and they do just fine. Paranoid people are making a too big deal of this story.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

So become a citizen or move on to your own country. No one is stopping you making a positive contribution to Japanese society except yourself.

please explain us what is a positive contribution according to you.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

"[Abe] says he could have explained it better...."

There is no sufficient explanation for a law that at its very heart is unconstitutional and wrong.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Abe is so full of it. But, as is mentioned from time to time, it's the voters who expressed that they wanted LDP back in power. Voter base is low, with ordinary citizens "not interested" in politics and the ones who vote are old or think their special interests will be tended to. You get what you vote for. Plus, Japan has a history of letting themselves be led, just bowing their heads and keep on plowing.

And now we are here.

Personally, I am disappointed. I am disappointed in that the majority of the populace just don't care. About anything. Much like Cortes said above, I too feel that, with the way the meltdown has been handled, and now this, Japan is showing it's true self. A land of lies, cover-ups and corruption with a docile and ignorant public. Great place to live...

4 ( +5 / -1 )

hidingout: I mean Canada, the UK and several other western democracies have similar laws on the books and nobody is complaining about the death of freedom, or right wingers leading us all to our doom in those countries.

Sounds like somebody doesn't realize we are talking about North America here and not Japan.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Just remeber, the people who passed this law, under the table mind you, was voted into their office by YOU. Only YOU can stop this madness that will destroy YOUR country and a country I love by voting ALL of them out of office the very next election. Only then will YOU gain control from those destroying YOUR rights and Japan.

Except, most of the people posting here aren't allowed to vote in Japan. WE did not vote them in, and WE have no direct power in voting them out. We can protest and make noise and whatnot, but that's it.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

@Disillusioned. You make a fair point. Many Japanese seem to think if they say sorry enough times it will make the problem go away and disappear. "Sumimasen" and "gomenasai" must be the two most used words in the Japanese language. Yes, Abe is a weasel, but in following his chosen profession he is also following a family tradition. Suspected war criminal Nobusuke Kishi and his grandad and previous prime minister. Father for foreign minister. This is the problem with Japan, hereditary politics. Hopefully the backlash from this secrecy bill will send Abe scurrying from power for good

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Damn! I get so sick of this Japanese crap of opoligizing after the fact! This goon is a weasel! He and his cronies pushed the secrecy bill through despite objections from just about every person in Japan. Now, he is on the platform trying to justify it and excuse himself. He is a sly weasel!

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Far as I am concerned J Govt and TEPCO are Masters at keeping secrets. Have either of them mentioned why the waste water from reactors 1 thru 3 are highly radioactive? NO..... They have not said one word about the reactor fuel 120 to 130 ton in each reactor which is floating around in the basement of said reactors and being pumped up with the waste water. No they just say Oh this leaky storage tank had a record high reading. Or the leaks into the ocean where the fuel will settle on the shoreline, dry up and get blown inland.... Has anybody heard a word??? NO.... Master's of Secret Keeping Them...

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Tokyo has now obtained the 2020 Olympics. With this law, Japan's government can now control all access to information coming out of Fukushima, and present a rosy picture to the world when the Olympics come round. Abe first assured everyone the "situation is under control", and then got a law passed which which let him control any further information regarding Fukushima. Finally Japanese people are waking up and realising what fools they were for letting Abe return to power.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

How does anyone explain a lie? Except, of course, a GREAT LIAR!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"I'm a right-wing, big-government ideologue who's terrified of the decline of the heritage press and the rise of alternative media. I don't trust the public, but they should trust me. Or else."

Sounds like somebody doesn't realize we are talking about Japan here and not North America. Seen any hard hitting exposes from the "alternative media" here in Japan since you arrived? Such an animal doesn't exist in Japan.

So far the only griping I've heard has been done by the above mentioned socialist types (academics and "rights" groups) and gaijin here on JT. I mean please, only 3000 people showed up to protest. We can pretty much guarantee that those 3000 people would protest anything Mr Abe did.

Why not just wait and see if the law gets abused before assuming that it will. I mean Canada, the UK and several other western democracies have similar laws on the books and nobody is complaining about the death of freedom, or right wingers leading us all to our doom in those countries.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

who cares, its not like people will do anything if they know the truth anyway.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Japan has been keeping secrets from its people longer than 60yrs already, they just want to try to keep more!

And this isn't so much about secrets as its about ""security"", look for these new laws to suppress the masses here further than they already are!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

It is common in our mass-media to read and to hear politicians talk about the number of social problems that face us today, such as global warming, destruction of Earth's environment, unemployment, crime, violence, poverty, hunger, and the population explosion. Yet, how often do we hear of workable plans for alleviating many of these social problems? It is relatively simple for people to criticize society, however it's much more difficult to identify and implement plans to resolve the problems.

And now...this - the special secrecy law!! The moment Japan open their chambers of security to the world, will mark an unprecedent chain-reaction of panic and fear.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The previous laws protected official secrets for 30 years. This one for 60. Since they are in such a rush it makes me wonder if anything happened 30 years ago that they want to keep secret. I had a look at events in 1984 and note that it was the year of the start of the chain of events that led to the Irangate / Iran-Contra scandal, according to the wikipedia page of CIA chief William Francis Buckley who was kidnapped and tortured by Hezbolla in that year, but I do not see a Japanese connection.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

encourage ally Washington to share its secrets

Would those secrets be the kind of lies that Bush used to start the Iraq "war?"

Or the secrets that Obama cherry picked from intelligence to try to start a war with Syria?

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/12/9/seymour_hersh_obama_cherry_picked_intelligence

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Just remeber, the people who passed this law, under the table mind you, was voted into their office by YOU. Only YOU can stop this madness that will destroy YOUR country and a country I love by voting ALL of them out of office the very next election.

Only then will YOU gain control from those destroying YOUR rights and Japan.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Nation states like business corporations must safeguard secrets like jungle survival tricks and camouflage.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I really don't like the sound of this. I've been happily living here with my Japanese wife and kind of planed to live here for the rest of my life... Now with the news of Fukishima emitting massive amounts of radiation, and the government suddenly passing this law.. I am having second thoughts.

Hmmmm maybe I should consider moving to another country some day soon.

12 ( +13 / -2 )

Transnational corporations need the backing of nation-state power (including access to information) to keep all the transportation, communication and market mechanisms in place so they can continue to exploit people and resources around the planet for excessive profits. Japan has been tied to the US in these efforts post WWII and Abe is just doing the bidding of his various masters and not the bidding of the people he was elected to serve.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Yes, he should've explained it better:

"I'm a right-wing, big-government ideologue who's terrified of the decline of the heritage press and the rise of alternative media. I don't trust the public, but they should trust me. Or else."

15 ( +17 / -3 )

This Law is in force from this Friday 13 December. Time to take a minute and ask ourselves exactly why this has been rushed through so fast. I think we should be concerned.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

It may become more difficult for investigative journalism to uncover the fraud of the state.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Abe goverment is creating overreatction in its targets. There is some controvery on this point, in part because the law as written is entirely too vague. Most likely, the law will be used to indefinitely detain Japanese citizens domestically. Abe has created a ugent reason to expand goverment power at the expense of privacy and civil liberties.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

'Under the law transparency will improve' The only transparency I see is in yet another lie.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

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