Insiders:
State secrets bill meant to suppress Fukushima news
- Japan public stunned, citizens could face years in prison
- Man has mouth “stuffed with cloth” after voicing opposition
- Toxic leaks into ocean seem unstoppable, gov’t must plug the information instead
29
November, 2013
Mainichi,
Nov. 27, 2013: The ruling coalition’s ramming of a controversial
special state secrets bill [...] through the House of Representatives
on Nov. 26 has stunned the public. [...] it could discourage citizens
as well as journalists from seeking access to such information for
fear of harsh punishment, blocking government information from
circulating in society [...]
Japan-based
Investigative Journalist Jake Adelstein,
Nov. 29, 2013: [...] even politicians inside the ruling bloc are
saying, “It can’t be denied that another purpose is to muzzle the
press, shut up whistleblowers, and ensure that the nuclear disaster
at Fukushima ceases to be an embarrassment before the Olympics.”
[...] And most tellingly, Masako Mori, the Minister of Justice, has
declared that nuclear related information will most likely be a
designated secret. For the Abe administration this would be fantastic
way to deal with the issue of tons of radiated water leaking
[...] There seems to be no end to stopping the toxic waste leaks
there but the new legislation would allow the administration to plug
the information leaks permanently. As [it] continues to pour into the
ocean and our food supply, it is an ominous sign that the Japanese
government refuses to disclose information about the levels of
pollution [...]
Mainichi,
Nov. 27, 2013: Under the bill, ordinary citizens who aid and abet or
conspire with others in leaking information classified as special
state secrets could face up to five years in prison even if the
information were not actually revealed. If citizens were indicted for
obtaining special secrets under the legislation, they could be
convicted without the content of the information being clarified.
Mainichi,
Nov. 27, 2013: One of the [Fukushima] residents angrily said, “How
far are they going to go in fooling us?” [...] a member of
the Diet’s investigation committee on the Fukushima nuclear
disaster, said, “I hope information involving the lives of
residents will not be made secret.”
Bellona,
Nov. 29, 2013: [...] The current condition of the Fukushima Daiichi
plant is precarious – arguably worse off than it was directly
following the initial catastrophe [...] seemingly continuous leaks of
highly radioactive water [...] The disposition of the fuel in the
melted down reactors is unknown [...] no real consensus on what on
what might stop or at least diminish the leaks of some 400 metric
tons a day of radioactive water into the Pacific. [...] it’s
understandable that Abe would like to stuff a sock in the bad news
[...]
“Stuff
a sock in the bad news”? Indeed…
EXSKF,
Nov. 29, 2013: A citizen was forcibly removed from the balcony in the
Diet where he was observing the debate [...] as he shouted his
opposition to the passage of the law. His mouth was stuffed with
cloth so that he couldn’t shout any more [...]
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