huridocs-tech JPN: NO! to Forcible Adoption of Wiretapping Bill

Forwarded by lalamaziwa <lalamaziwa@jca.apc.org>
---------------- Original message follows ----------------
 From: INYAKU Tomoya <tomo@jca.apc.org>
 To: lalamaziwa
 Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 22:22:14 +0900
 Subject: NO! to Forcible Adoption of Wiretapping Bill
--


                        URGENT APPEAL
            NO! to Forcible Adoption of Wiretapping Bill

(NOTE: English translation of organizational names may be incorrect.)


Abnormal Delibration and Adoption at House of Representatives
-------------------------------------------------------------

On 19:12 28th May 1999, at the Judicial Affairs Committee of the House 
of Representatives, JI-JI-KO coalition of three Parties proceeded with 
forcible voting on the Wiretapping/Organizied Crime Control Bills. 
JI-JI-KO comprise of LDP: Liberal-Democratic Party (Jimin), LP: Liberal 
Party (Jiyu), and Kohmei Party which collectively excercise majority 
voting power.

The Parties calling for careful delibration - Democratic Party (Minshu), 
Communist Party (Kyosan), Social-Democratic Party (Shamin) - had 
boycotted this particular Committee Meeting set up for the purpose of 
voting on the proposed Bill while bypassing further discussion. As a 
result, the Committee deliberations proceed by allocating time for 
unagreed speakers from three absent Parties. After spending long idle 
time to create alibi of deliberations for the record, the bill was 
brought to voting and adopted.


Contradictory Bill to legalize Police Monitoring
------------------------------------------------

The Wiretapping Bill clearly contradicts the Japanese Constitution 
by approving parallel reception of communications (wiretapping)
by Police force. This acceptance of wiretapping undermines our rights 
to privacy in communications stated in Constitution Article 21. 

Furthermore, the law will bring major change to the nature of the Police 
forces which now will become an organization to monitor people's privacy 
and activiites using massive national budget for this purpose. The action 
of the JI-JI-KO to have forcibly adopted such Bill without appropriate 
deliberation is in fact an act of "organized crime."


Past History of Illegal Police Wiretapping Remains Unaccounted
--------------------------------------------------------------

The long history of organized illegal wiretapping by the Police is 
clearly visible. It has been validated by a number of statements, such 
as technicians of a hearing aid manufacturing company that have long 
provided wiretapping instruments to the Police, and private 
anti-wiretapping specialists who came across wiretapping instruments 
set up by the Police. The act of JI-JI-KO to approve such Police forces 
to "legally" wiretap is brutal, and unacceptable.


Invalid Voting!  We Demand Withdrawal of the Bill
-------------------------------------------------

The citizens' groups which have advocated againt the Wiretapping Bill 
supports the position of three parties (Minshu, Kyosan, Shamin) that 
consider opening of Judicial Affairs Committee on 28th May itself 
abnormal, hence the "voting" which took place is also invalid. 
If another attempt to forcibly conduct voting should take place at 
the Plenary of the House of Representatives, we will be forced to 
consider that JI-JI-KO has chosen to deprive privacy from its people 
and lead the path towards a Nation monitored and controlled by the 
Police forces.

The abnormality of this Wiretapping Bill has been proven by 
unjustifiable forcible voting and adoption process that we witnessed 
today. It has made us reconfirm our belief that the Bill should be 
withdrawn.


Statement endorced by
---------------------
Women's Democratic Club
Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace
Citizens Calling for Hault on Death Penalty to Mumia 
Networkers against Surveillance Taskforce(NaST)/Anti-Network Monitoring Project
San-ya Workers Welfare Center, Action Committee
Association to reconsider Military Base in Atsugi
Nihon-zan Myoho-ji Buddist Temple
Can't You Hear the Voice from the Future saying "Please Stop!"
MUKUGE Association on Ratial Discrimination
Women Against the Road to War, Kanagawa Charter
Kanagawa Citizens Against Wiretappig Bill (Organized Crime Prevention Bill)
Japan Computer Access
Consumer's Associaton of Japan (Nihon Shouhi-sha Renmei)
Grassroots Association (Kusanone-kai)
Networkers Against Wiretapping Law
Yamato Citizens acting for Peace
Peace-Cycle Kanagawa Network
Association of Future Concerns
Children and School Textbook 21 in Kanagawa
JCA-NET

[Contact]
Citizens Network Against Destructive Activity Prevention Law and Organized 
Crime Prevention Law (Habo-ho & Sotai-ho ni Hantai-suru Shimin-renraku-kai)

[contact details]
Consumer Associaton of Japan (Nihon Shouhi-sha Renmei)
   tel 03-3711-7766  fax 03-3715-9378
Democratic Women's Club (Fujin Minshu Club)
   tel 03-3402-3238  fax 03-3401-3453
Networkers Against Wiretapping Law/Anti-Network Monitoring Project
   (Toucho-ho Seiritu Soshi Networker Renraku-kai/Network Han-Kanshi 
    Project)
   email: priv-ec@jca.apc.org



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