2013/12/07 MESSAGE FROM Mr. A “The Man who stood up against the Secrecy Bill”

Dear all,

How could I accept this State Secret Protection Law ?
This one law is shaking and undermining the three fundamental principles of the Japanese Constitution: the sovereignty of the people, pacifism, and the respect of Human Rights. I believe that the 70 years of peaceful Japan since the end of World War II was guaranteed by our Constitution. However, the sudden arrival of a war-loving Prime Minister is about to destroy the peace that we have maintained over the past 70 years. This is simply unacceptable.

On the evening of December 6th, I was deeply moved as I saw the thousands of people walking toward the Diet demonstrating their opposition to the State Secrets Protection Law. I believed that a revolution was going to occur that evening. Other protesters who witnessed the scene said that given the situation, the New Komeito party ought to ask the Liberal Democratic Party to postpone the vote on the bill to the next Parliament session. On the evening of the 6th, I thought that even if the bill was voted, the force of the public opinion could overthrow the Abe administration.

However, in reality, Abe totally ignored the will of the people and our feelings of deep anger. Our expectations were betrayed, and the bill was steamrolled at the plenary session. I could not accept this, and the more I thought of all the people who kept shouting day after day, all day, “NO TO THE SECRECY LAW!”, the less I could resign myself to overlook this steamrolling in silence.

While the liberal democrat Councilors would shout terribly vulgar jeers, the hearers were not allowed to say a thing to the Chamber, or even to applaud. In this situation, it is not surprising that the Councelors of the ruling party misunderstand that they are the ones in command and that the people are inferior subjects. In fact, watching the proud arrogance of the members of the ruling party was unbearable.

I felt the urge to send a message, saying “WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE STEAMROLLING OF THIS BILL” to all the thoughtful people hoping for the rejection of the Secrecy bill in Japan, and to my friends from abroad who expressed their concerns. At the same time, I wanted to express my deep disappointment to the Members of Parliament. This is why, as a hearer of the session, I could no longer refrain myself from throwing my shoes into the Chamber hall.

Please understand my feelings, and help me regain my freedom so that, with all of you, I can keep fighting against the State Secrets Protection Law.
I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart.

December 7th, 2013