politics

Ishiba under fire for comparing state secret bill protesters to terrorists

45 Comments

LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba is under fire for comments he made on his blog on Friday, in which he likened civic groups protesting outside the Diet against the state secret bill to terrorists.

Ishiba wrote that their "noisy protests against the government decision are tantamount to terrorism."

On Saturday and Sunday, civic groups and media criticized Ishiba for his choice of words, Fuji TV reported.

On Sunday, Ishiba responded on his blog. "No matter which side you are opposing or supporting, to simply shout, carry on, and cause a public disturbance for many people, is decidedly an ineffective way to express public opinion."

He went on to further stress that "if it is indeed the wish of the people to express their personal opinions on the matter, then let them, in accordance with the system of democracy, increase their sympathizers one by one and grow in number and influence."

During a speech in Toyama Prefecture on Sunday, Ishiba admitted that demonstrations alone do not constitute acts of terrorism.

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45 Comments
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Protesting is now the new terrorism? It's called democracy, Ishiba - something you and Abe have no concept of.

28 ( +28 / -0 )

I don't like the way that terrorist has become a smear word, rather than referring to its literal meaning. If someone threw a bomb at this guy, then they would be a terrorist. People demonstrating are merely expressing the way they choose to in a free democratic society. Ishiba is obviously uncomfortable with this, and would prefer it if people had less freedom to object, just as is happening in other advanced democracies around the world.

21 ( +21 / -0 )

Well now, that didn't take long at all, did it?

Anyone in any doubt as to the Abe regime's commitment to acting in your best interests should find those doubts resolved.

Do as you are told. Believe what you are told. We are your masters and you will obey us. Dissent is terrorism.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

This week, on "Which Japanese Politician Will Idiot Themself Into the Headlines Next??"

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Seriously this idiot doesn't understand democracy. Abe is the same.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

What a bozo, I think the government's handling of Fukushima is paramount to terrorism!

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Wow! So now, protestors are considered terrorists and enemies of the state? Did Japan become a communist country and I missed the announcement? What's next? Will we see the JSDF driving tanks over protestors in central Tokyo? It's a f'king democracy you arrogant plick! Most of those people protesting voted for you! Who is the bigger idiot? Him or the fools that voted for him and his party?

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Revolting peasants. Let them eat contaminated food.

9 ( +10 / -0 )

Nope, that didn't take long at all. Totalitarianism, anyone?

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Wonder if he's going to ban the black vans as terrorist instruments any time soon. No, didn't think so. It's all one way with the LDP and Japan's rightists. Protesting a vaguely-worded bill that removes our right to information and lessons personal freedoms is terrorism, driving around in black vans screaming for violence against ethnic Koreans (terrorising people) is tolerated.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Disturbing. This can't be what Japanese want. But since when has the what citizens wanted been a priority in Japan?

8 ( +9 / -1 )

More and more like China every day. If Ishiba had his way, freedom of speech would be outlawed. I pity the people who support men like him while decrying the actions of Japan's neighbours. Ossan is probably a fan.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

>...to simply shout, carry on, and cause a public disturbance for many people, is decidedly an ineffective way to express public opinion.

So what is an effective way to express public pinion?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

"What leads previous posters to think Japan is a Democracy? Japan has never been sold as a Democracy to its people and most educated Japanese will surely tell you it is not run as a Democracy. If you are non-Japanese and cant handle this then dont let the door hit you in the behind on the way out."

I see. So just because this country does not function as a democracy means people here--Japanese and non Japanese--should not be pressing for it to be one? This argument was raised previously by former Singapore leader Lee and Malaysia when citizens there were clamouring for human rights. At the time Lee said human rights were a foreign concept. Yeah, right?

In any case, whether one comes from a nation which claims it is a democracy, such as the US (with a long tradition of protesting for democratic change), Japan (with less of a history but a Constitution that guarantees it and many people who demand that it be respected), or an out and out dictatorship, the issue is the same: states are in a race to erase freedom of speech and the right to know. It has nothing to do with accepting the rush to fascism just because Japan has supposedly never been a democracy. This was the warning of ex-Mainichi reporter Niahiyama Takichi (found guilty in an earlier era of using "devious tactics" to uncover the truth about US and Japanese collusion over the reversion of Okinawa) and numerous legal and other scholars who have told us that the law is nothing more than a step along a dangerous path to the pre-war days. Hiding of information, such as the spread of radiation, caused residents of Namie town to evacuate in the wrong direction, according to its mayor. The law is bad news for a press which is already fettered by press club rules that discourage muck-raking journalism. It will be much worse from here on in.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Being called a 'terrorist' is becoming more and more a compliment these days.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

This guy is a moron, he said bad things before.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/ldp-exec-apologizes-for-fukushima-disaster-gaffe Shame Japantoday's articles have an expiry date (wtf?)

Either way now we finally know who is a big supporter for that secrecy bill. Perhaps its time for him to resign.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Ishiba wrote that their “noisy protests against the government decision are tantamount to terrorism.”

someone needs a dictionary

5 ( +5 / -0 )

"Hey you plebs, if you're not from a political fdynasty, just go home and shut up. This is "democracy" Japan-style."

(That's my translation of Ishiba's statement. Gods, I hate these career politicians who just take over daddy or grandaddy's seats.)

5 ( +5 / -0 )

What amaze me the most is that those clowns keep their seats, elections after elections.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The very essence of democracy.

What Japan's missing is the other key ingredient, an educated populace; educated in the sense of having access to actionable information.

This new law aims to remove even more of that scantly available information from public view. I don't think we're that far away from a curtailing of rights to assembly in this country...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Here we go, right?

That's why this kind of law is dangerous, precisely because of this kind of interpretation of democracy by a large amount of people inside the LDP including Abe (and in general by the Japanese real government power, the bureaucrats). Their misunderstanding of democracy is baffling, basically they interpret it in order to satisfy their own benefits. If you've got this kind of people doing state secret laws, you've got the beginning of a disaster.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Perfect. I really hope this is reported abroad. The outside world needs to know what these so-called Japanese politicians really are made of. They can stand there and fake-smile and bow their asses off but they have no understanding of the people's will. Ishiba... What a pathetic clown.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

before uttering the word terrorism, pls keep in mind the victim of it

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This state secret bill sounds more like a government coup in disguise.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The shiny-faced fool Ishiba shows his true colours: any dissent from the government line is "terrorism". Given half a chance the LDP would ban these demonstrations and arrest the organisers. The arrogant LDP don't want to hear your opinion, so shut up and go home.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

There was an article in "Aera" a couple of months ago about this guy. He actually came over as quite a decent bloke, shunned by the LDP hard liners for his moderate opinions.

But then he comes out with this....

: (

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japanese politician making dumb statement, nothing unusual !

1 ( +1 / -0 )

remember remember the 5th of november: "it's the government that should fear the people, and not the other way around". this arsehole is obviously all for state terrorism. maybe he's much too influenced by the chinese-gov, the one that puts you in jail for dissent.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yep, just label them "terrorists" if they disagree with you. Then you can ignore their opinions and round them up if they start to become a "threat."

1 ( +2 / -1 )

.

Japanese Constitution guarantees the freedom of assembly.

These protesters are simply exercising their rights to express their thoughts and opinions against the government. It is a healthy process for democracy.

Keep it mind that the transparency is a critical element for democracy as long as an idiot like Ishiba is in government.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

terrorism usually involve violence. Watch out. He might not be in his LDP position sooner or later. Abe can not afford this kid of people who do not know there are simple dictionaries in Japan. Maybe he ought go to nearest elementary school to learn how to use dictionary?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

homeland: Notice the position he has in LDP organization, It has nothing to do with election, He will lose his LDP position. l One of talented LDP member will get LDP Secretary General position. ;
1 ( +1 / -0 )

The real terrorists are Abe and his LDP liars. Just wait for a people's revolution.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It seems that a devil is living in his brain. He knows he loves it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Our taxes are not paid to lawmakers for their carper of words.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That makes for a bit of a bad start. At least he corrected not long after.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Can you undo this dangerous bill? Please help me understand, thank you.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What a farce of a word "terrorism" has become - nothing more than a snarl word to throw at people who dissent from the establishment's views or wishes, which serves to elevate them to a special category of threat where due process no longer applies.

It doesn't surprise me at all that protest=terrorism is the thinking of this government. I'm just wondering how long it will be before the next large protest is brutally suppressed.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Ishiba clearly used too strong a word, but I think cooler heads need to prevail. First of all, this is the government the Japanese people elected. This is democracy in action. This is what the Japanese people wanted. They knew exactly what they were getting with the LDP, and Ishiba was no stranger, having served in Cabinet posts (including as Minister of Defense) before the LDP lost power a few years ago.

Are protesters actually terrorists? No, of course not, and Ishiba knows that. This is why his choice of language is telling. He knows he can say things like this and kick up a storm, but when it comes to election time, the people are right there behind him. He's taken a ton of attention off of Japan's response to China's new air zone, and that is where everyone needs to be looking for the "why" in this situation.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Japan has never been sold as a Democracy

Other than the fact that it has elections and all that.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Toshiko, I'd be inclined to agree with you if there were actually a credible opposition party, but there isn't. The last election showed that the public was willing to put an unreformed and unapologetic LDP back in power. While Koizumi said he was going to destroy the LDP, Abe, Fukuda and Aso did something much more powerful: They gave the opposition a chance to destroy itself.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

What leads previous posters to think Japan is a Democracy? Japan has never been sold as a Democracy to its people and most educated Japanese will surely tell you it is not run as a Democracy. If you are non-Japanese and cant handle this then dont let the door hit you in the behind on the way out.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Most of those people protesting voted for you!

Doubt it. Same morons that demonstrated against nuclear power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed7SgPMtZ1M

"Give Peace a chance"??? Collection of dimwits who haven't read the bill. Or maybe they have but they protest anyways.

-22 ( +2 / -24 )

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