Disir
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- Sep 30, 2011
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A government-backed bill is slated to go before the Diet next month, potentially revising the definition of who can be arrested for conspiring to commit acts of terrorism as security concerns mount ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, government sources revealed Friday.
While a similar bill has been submitted to the Diet three times in the past only to be rejected due to public fears over the sweeping powers it could grant police, the new legislation would narrow the targets of authorities to “organized crime groups” — including terrorist groups — the sources said.
Earlier versions of the bill had not specified the law’s targets, instead referring merely to “groups,” something that had stoked fears that the law could be used to quell dissent.
In addition to conspiring to commit terrorist acts, those who “prepare” for such acts, including the soliciting of funds, will also be subjected to the law, the sources added.
Critics, however, argue a revision to the current law is unnecessary.
“There are already other laws, including a clause that penalizes those who plot or prepare to murder in the Penal Code,” said Hirofumi Uchida, professor of criminal law at Kobe Gakuin University. “A conspiracy law is not necessary.”
If the government claims that isn’t enough, it should present actual cases that aren’t subjected to the current law, he said.
Controversial conspiracy bill that critics say could be used to stifle dissent to go before Diet next month | The Japan Times
Otherwise, may as well be just like South Korea where you can jail your opponents.
While a similar bill has been submitted to the Diet three times in the past only to be rejected due to public fears over the sweeping powers it could grant police, the new legislation would narrow the targets of authorities to “organized crime groups” — including terrorist groups — the sources said.
Earlier versions of the bill had not specified the law’s targets, instead referring merely to “groups,” something that had stoked fears that the law could be used to quell dissent.
In addition to conspiring to commit terrorist acts, those who “prepare” for such acts, including the soliciting of funds, will also be subjected to the law, the sources added.
Critics, however, argue a revision to the current law is unnecessary.
“There are already other laws, including a clause that penalizes those who plot or prepare to murder in the Penal Code,” said Hirofumi Uchida, professor of criminal law at Kobe Gakuin University. “A conspiracy law is not necessary.”
If the government claims that isn’t enough, it should present actual cases that aren’t subjected to the current law, he said.
Controversial conspiracy bill that critics say could be used to stifle dissent to go before Diet next month | The Japan Times
Otherwise, may as well be just like South Korea where you can jail your opponents.
