Controversial anti terror conspiracy law passed in Japan

Controversial anti terror conspiracy law passed in Japan

Controversial anti terror conspiracy law passed in Japan: A controversial bill which allows authorities to target terror conspiracies has been passed by Japan’s lawmakers.
Despite vocal opposition, PM Shinzo Abe’s ruling bloc had pushed the bill through the upper house early on Thursday, 15th June 2017.
The government has argued that the law is essential to improve security ahead of the 2020 Olympics, furthermore it is to comply with the UN charter which Japan has signed.
However critics have said that the law will curb civil liberties and could be abused to monitor and target innocent citizens.
The law has also sparked protests. The law, which is described as criminalising the plotting and committing of 277 acts, amends an existing law against organised crime syndicates.
The law bans the procurement of funds or supplies along with the surveying of a location in the preparation of any of these offences.
It bans the procurement of funds or supplies and the surveying of a location in preparation of any of these offences. Furthermore an entire group defined as two or more people can be charged if at least one member is found to have been plotting the crime.
It also bans the expansion or maintenance of illicit interests of organised crime groups.
Japan had signed a UN convention which is against transnational organised crime; however Japan has not yet ratified it. The government has said that the new law was needed for ratification to go ahead.
Mr Abe told the reporters that the law would allow Japan to “firmly cooperate with international society to prevent terrorism.”
The ruling block had been attempting to pass the legislation and had put in 677 offences which were later taken down to 277. The law which bans the plotting of serious crimes such as terrorism but also lesser offences such as;
Copying music
Conducting sit-ins to protest the construction of apartment buildings
Using forged stamps
Competing in a motor boat race without a licence
Mushroom picking in conservation forests
Avoiding paying consumption tax
Although the government has said that it will ensure that the law is not misused, critics say otherwise. Critics claim that the law is too broadly worded and gives the authorities sweeping powers.
The critics have also questioned the inclusion of certain acts and asked how it can contribute towards terrorism.
The government however has argued that some could be used in association with criminal operations such as, a gang or terror cell could fund its operations from the sale of illegally picked mushrooms.
However an editorial in a newspaper has said that this argument was “unconvincing”, as many other possible illegal sources of revenue such as marine poaching are not included on the list.
The editorial stated that “While the sale of such seafood may also bring profits, that is not subject to the anti-conspiracy bill. What sets seafood apart from blessings from the mountains?”
Critics have also taken an issue of the way the bill was pushed through, as the ruling bloc took the unusual step of bypassing certain formalities to ensure it would be speedily passed.
They have also accused the government of steamrolling the opposition, and questioned whether this was aimed at protecting Mr Abe from being grilled on a brewing political scandal.

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