Published on Dec 10, 2014
Japan's secrecy law takes effect
Japan Dec. 10, 2014 - Updated 00:20 UTC-5
Japan's secrecy law took effect on Wednesday, allowing the government to designate security information deemed to be very sensitive as "special secrets".
The secrecy law cleared the Diet in December last year.
Public servants or others who leak information deemed as secrets will face up to 10 years in prison, and those who instigate leaks will be subject to a prison term of up to 5 years.
The initial 5-year-designation period for a state secret can be extended for up to 30 years on the judgment of ministers and other heads of administrative bodies.
Cabinet approval is needed for an extension exceeding a period of 30 years. All state secrets are to be declassified after 60 years from designation, with some exceptions.
Under government guidelines approved in October, only the heads of 19 government bodies, such as the defense and foreign ministries, can designate information as state secrets. The guidelines also define state secrets in 55 categories, including top-secret information provided by foreign governments as well as surveillance activities by the Self-Defense Forces.
The government on Wednesday set up a body to check whether the designation of secrets is appropriate. The body is headed by the Chief Cabinet Secretary and consists of vice ministers.
The government also appointed the first head of another Cabinet Office body, which is authorized to independently check official documents. He is Takafumi Sato, a senior official of the Justice Ministry's Institute of Research and Training.
A group of lawyers in Japan is demanding the abolishment of the state secrecy law that went into force on Wednesday.
The head of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, Susumu Murakoshi, released a statement on Wednesday.
The statement says concerns persist that the legislation could violate the public's right to know and undermine popular sovereignty.
It points out the scope of information to be designated as secrets by the law is wide and ambiguous. It says by keeping the public, Diet members and those in the media in check with strict penalties, the public will be kept from accessing the information needed for right decision-making.
The statement also calls for fresh public debates on the legislation.
It says the lawyers' federation will place emphasis on revising systems concerning information disclosure and the management of public documents. It will also aim to realize legislation that will clarify the public's right to know and the protection of privacy.
Nuclear conference closes, differences highlighted
World Dec. 9, 2014 - Updated 21:30 UTC-5
An international conference has highlighted the differences between nuclear and non-nuclear nations over creating a legal framework to ban nuclear arms.
The 3rd conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons closed its 2-days of discussions in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday. Nearly 160 countries took part.
Non-nuclear countries called for continued efforts toward formulating a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons.
But the nuclear powers Britain and the United States, attending the meeting for the first time, opposed. They said imposing a ban on nuclear weapons ignores the stability and security the arms bring about. The nuclear powers argued disarmament should take place gradually.
Japan said opinions could differ on how to pursue the goal of a creating a world free of nuclear weapons but the participating countries should focus on the views they hold in common.
The chair country Austria also said there are various opinions on ways to promote nuclear disarmament.
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Cs-134/137 detected double as food safety limit from water purification plant soil in Saitama
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All nuclear weapons must be abolished'
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Japan Dec. 10, 2014 - Updated 00:20 UTC-5
Japan's secrecy law took effect on Wednesday, allowing the government to designate security information deemed to be very sensitive as "special secrets".
The secrecy law cleared the Diet in December last year.
Public servants or others who leak information deemed as secrets will face up to 10 years in prison, and those who instigate leaks will be subject to a prison term of up to 5 years.
The initial 5-year-designation period for a state secret can be extended for up to 30 years on the judgment of ministers and other heads of administrative bodies.
Cabinet approval is needed for an extension exceeding a period of 30 years. All state secrets are to be declassified after 60 years from designation, with some exceptions.
Under government guidelines approved in October, only the heads of 19 government bodies, such as the defense and foreign ministries, can designate information as state secrets. The guidelines also define state secrets in 55 categories, including top-secret information provided by foreign governments as well as surveillance activities by the Self-Defense Forces.
The government on Wednesday set up a body to check whether the designation of secrets is appropriate. The body is headed by the Chief Cabinet Secretary and consists of vice ministers.
The government also appointed the first head of another Cabinet Office body, which is authorized to independently check official documents. He is Takafumi Sato, a senior official of the Justice Ministry's Institute of Research and Training.
A group of lawyers in Japan is demanding the abolishment of the state secrecy law that went into force on Wednesday.
The head of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, Susumu Murakoshi, released a statement on Wednesday.
The statement says concerns persist that the legislation could violate the public's right to know and undermine popular sovereignty.
It points out the scope of information to be designated as secrets by the law is wide and ambiguous. It says by keeping the public, Diet members and those in the media in check with strict penalties, the public will be kept from accessing the information needed for right decision-making.
The statement also calls for fresh public debates on the legislation.
It says the lawyers' federation will place emphasis on revising systems concerning information disclosure and the management of public documents. It will also aim to realize legislation that will clarify the public's right to know and the protection of privacy.
Nuclear conference closes, differences highlighted
World Dec. 9, 2014 - Updated 21:30 UTC-5
An international conference has highlighted the differences between nuclear and non-nuclear nations over creating a legal framework to ban nuclear arms.
The 3rd conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons closed its 2-days of discussions in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday. Nearly 160 countries took part.
Non-nuclear countries called for continued efforts toward formulating a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons.
But the nuclear powers Britain and the United States, attending the meeting for the first time, opposed. They said imposing a ban on nuclear weapons ignores the stability and security the arms bring about. The nuclear powers argued disarmament should take place gradually.
Japan said opinions could differ on how to pursue the goal of a creating a world free of nuclear weapons but the participating countries should focus on the views they hold in common.
The chair country Austria also said there are various opinions on ways to promote nuclear disarmament.
Experts: 100% death rate for baby whales along West Coast — ‘Alarm bells ring’ as no newborns have survived in past 3 years — “This is absolutely the worst thing possible”, pregnant orca dies with decomposing stillborn full-term fetus inside — “We’re going to lose them… they’ll be extinct for sure” (VIDEO)
http://enenews.com/experts-100-death-...
Huge sperm whales found dead on South Australia beach (video)
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-austral...
Cs-134/137 detected double as food safety limit from water purification plant soil in Saitama
http://fukushima-diary.com/2014/12/cs...
All nuclear weapons must be abolished'
http://www.thelocal.se/20141210/walls...
Vt. Yankee owners seek money to move nuke waste
http://www.recorder.com/home/14738101...
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