I am rading The Tshwane Principles published at a meeting in S Afr in June this year. It was drafted by 22 organizations and academic centers in consultation with more than 500 experts from more than 70 countries. The theme is regarding national security and the right to information. It warns that the authority could withold informations from the public for its own interests.
Our government is going to enact the state secret protection bill at present. It is clearly against the above mentioned Principles with respect to the following points;
1)The bill won't specify what would be the secrets to be protected. The head of the administrative organs could designate them without letting the public know of even the existence of designation.
2)The range of secrets is too diverse covering all aspects of the lives of the public. It could influence on us in serious manner. There is not any law effective to publish informations in the administrative organs yet.
3)The government says they will make effort to establish an oversight center independent of the administrative authorities. But it is just an empty promise. The entire course of enacting this bill means they won't place any such center which would tie their freedom in enforcement of this law.
4)The secrets the heads of the administrative organs designate won't be published in the future if the authority wishes. The secrets won't be critisized by the history. It would make a moral hazard of the administrative authorities.
I am sure this law could determine what shape of the country Japan would take in the future. It is as important as our constitution. The present government, which had been established with approval to the LDPJ by only 20% of votes in the election last year doesn't have the right to enact such a law.
It is a great disappointment the public is almost indifferent to this problem. They seem to be occupied with the apparent picking up buisiness situation, which has been resulted only from the accidental drop of our currency. In addition to it, the public was given the freedom in life without any efforts. That may be the reason why they could be indifferent to it.
Welcome to big Government and our of control parasitic bureaucracy.
ReplyDeleteEven a party whose motto is a small government is approving this bill. What will result from this?!
Delete"Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins. Republics and limited monarchies derive their strength and vigor from a popular examination into the action of the magistrates." Benjamin Franklin 1737
ReplyDelete"They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin 1755
A sad statement about the wisdom of our forefathers here who set this country in motion, our present self serving politicians who opening seek to destroy it and the amazing lack of courage of our population to allow it all to change.
I continue to profess that, hopefully, what time I have left will not let me see it happen.
Don
Thanks for the words of wisdom by B. Franklin. It has become urgent issue nowadays. that may be why they have published this Tshwane Principles. The people here seem to take it as a problem for the mass media which could be witheld the informations and could be even punished for their gathering informations. They are rather indifferent to this vicious movement. Even if the present government should have good will to protect our country from espionage etc, this system could go wrong way. The government should appreciate Franklin's words.
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