Monday, June 6, 2016

LDP Mobilizing to Revise Constitution, Opposition Mobilizing to Oust LDP


Japan's democratic opposition parties are mobilizing to upset the LDP hold on government in the Upper House election at a time when the LDP is close to changing Japan's post-World War II pacifist Constitution:

Pre-election rallies across Japan blast Abe, security laws THE ASAHI SHIMBUN June 6, 2016 at 18:40 http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201606060064.html
Tens of thousands of anti-Abe government protesters held simultaneous demonstrations across Japan on June 5, demanding the abolishment of national security legislation and urging voters to support opposition parties in the Upper House election.

The Civil Alliance for Peace and Constitutionalism, founded by members of five citizens groups, including the Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy-s (SEALDs), and a pro-Constitution organization jointly arranged the rallies at more than 50 locations around the nation.
Here is my summary of Japan's proposed constitutional revisions, which appear to be driven by US - Japan military-industrial interests: https://www.dropbox.com/s/97xnd5cujv0qu0r/Japan's%20Constitutional%20Revisionism%20Final%20April%202016.pdf?dl=0

Constitutional revisionism in not popular in Japan, according to poll results published in the Asahi Shimbun:

ASAHI POLL: Majority of voters feel no need to revise Constitution. The Asahi Shimbun, May 3, 2016, http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201605030043.html

Despite lack of strong support for these revisions, the LDP is pushing them forward in a context of heightened press censorship and government secrecy, as illustrated here:
Communications minister draws outrage over ‘threat’ to broadcasters, The Asahi Shimbun, February 09, 2016, http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201602090074

Amid complaints that she’s threatening freedom of speech, communications minister Sanae Takaichi repeated her assertion that the government can legally shut down broadcasters that continue to air “biased political reports.”

The controversy started at the Lower House Budget Committee on Feb. 8, when Takaichi, a close associate of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was asked if a broadcaster could be ordered to suspend its operations simply for showing a report critical of the administration.

“We cannot promise not to take any response when a broadcaster shows no improvement and repeatedly airs (politically unfair news reports) despite (the ministry’s) administrative instructions,” she said.
Yesterday I reported allegations by US whistle blower Edward Snowden that Japan's oppressive new state secrets law was designed by the US (here).
 
I find it both saddening and sickening that my government would encourage greater militancy, secrecy, and oppression of free speech overseas. I find it alarming that these outcomes are being pursued in allies, as well as in "enemies."

RELATED BLOG POSTS

Majia's Blog: Japan on Way Down Slippery Slope of Fascism

Majia's Blog: Censorship and Dispossession in Japan

Majia's Blog: CENSORSHIP of Fuksuhima Disaster ...

Majia's Blog: Japan's Open Society in Crisis

Majia's Blog: Japan's State Secrets Law Goes into Effect

Fukushima Update

Emissions at Fukushima Daiichi remain highly elevated. I suspect that the ice wall has been a bigger failure than reported:

 

 

5 comments:

  1. In the Leviathan Hobbes makes the point that the Sovereign can not do anything illegal since he makes the laws -- he is therefore above the laws. In the 1930's Carl Schmitt ( a German jurist who was not even supportive of the Nazis) wrote about the need for the Leader to be above the law in times of crisis. Clearly that has not been lost on the leaders of the USA and probably not on Japan either. And Japan is in a great crisis though it can not be talked about openly. Why the USA needs to spy on Japan is not entirely clear. War with China? Is Obama intending preemptive strikes on China and Russia. I don't think the military would go along with him if he tries. Obama is a very lame duck president with only mass media prestige. Still all this is unsettling.

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    1. Astute observations about nature of modern sovereignty.

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  2. I think you are right William. No rhyme or reason to the madness. Create more trouble that they will expend energy and money covering up

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  3. We are brainwashed to think the people who pull the strings give a shit about us or anything William. Astute and eloquent distillation of the truth there that you hav done.

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  4. As for the military William. They will do as they are told. Always have, always will. They will be brigged or shot otherwise. You are just dreaming there. Many veterans and rightwing crackpots get their news exclusively from war monging schizophrenic militaristic sources like fox news. The military and military industrial complex is the main part of the problem. Anyone who thinks otherwise is in La La land. The major shareholders of fox news are Saudi Arabian by the way.

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