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On December 9, DPJ President Banri Kaieda held a press conference at party headquarters. He referred to the fact that the special secrets protection law had been enacted after being steamrollered through the Diet by the ruling parties in the session that had ended the previous day. Kaieda expressed his strong feelings on this matter, stating, “The LDP railroaded through and enacted the special secrets protection bill at the end of the session, in the face of huge public opposition. I would like to once more express my deep anger regarding this. The bill has been made law, and although the date of implementation has not yet been decided, there are concerns that its enactment will greatly impinge upon ‘the people’s right to know’ and ‘the freedom of the press’. The DPJ must monitor events to ensure that ‘the people’s right to know’ and ‘the freedom of the press’ are properly protected.”
Kaieda went on to explain that, with this in mind, the DPJ had established a strategy headquarters, with he himself serving as chair, to deal with this issue. The headquarters would liaise with the Policy Research Committee Chair, and engage in the following with regard to the DPJ counterproposal regarding the special secrets protection bill, which was submitted to the Diet in the session just ended: (1) submit it to the Diet once again, (2) call for thorough and sustained discussion, and (3) draft a new Diet members bill, if it should be determined that additional measures needed to be taken.
Furthermore, Kaieda stated that “Many members of the public are opposed to the special secrets protection legislation, and calls of protest have also been raised by numerous organisations from a variety of sectors. We must liaise with these organisations to once again point out the issues surrounding the legislation and to monitor the government. I would like to build up such a national movement.” He added, “The DPJ is ready to stand at the front of such a movement.”
Asked for his thoughts on comments made by Prime Minister Abe on the day following the steamrollering of the legislation, in which he said, “When I woke up this morning it was quiet, as if after a storm had passed.” Kaieda said, “I don’t claim to know what he was feeling when he said that,” and added, “I wonder however about his saying that a storm had passed. There is a saying, ‘listen from the heart’. A prime minister should listen from the heart and hear the voices of the people, of the silent majority. This is what I would like the Prime Minister to do.”
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