Shobara citizens submit petition, seeking withdrawal of security bills, to prime minister
Sep. 17, 2015
by Osamu Kido, Staff Writer
A citizens’ group in the city of Shobara, located in northern Hiroshima Prefecture, submitted a petition to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on September 1, calling for his administration to withdraw the new security bills now under consideration in the Diet. The opposition group, “Stop the Security Legislation,” is composed of an LDP-registered Hiroshima prefectural assembly member elected from Shobara, and Shobara council members and civic associations. The petition includes the signatures of approximately 13,200 people.
The members of the group who met with Seiichi Eto, a special adviser to the prime minister, at the prime minister’s office were Hidenori Kobayashi, the president of the Shobara citizens’ group and a Hiroshima prefectural assembly member belonging to the LDP, and Hideaki Horii, the vice president of the group and a member of the Shobara City Council. In their letter to Mr. Abe, the petitioners contend that the security bills could undermine the nation’s legal stability and are unacceptable. They urge the government to withdraw the bills and pursue a policy that prioritizes diplomatic efforts in order to advance peace in the world.
According to Mr. Kobayashi, Mr. Eto replied that the security bills do not violate Article 9 of the Constitution and that, to contribute to a peaceful world, Japan should provide logistical support to the U.S. military and the armed forces of other countries. As to the argument made by the two representatives of the group that the government’s responses in the Diet deliberations are often vague or inappropriate, Mr. Eto admitted that some of the responses have been lacking and he expressed his intention to provide more in-depth explanations to the public.
Following the meeting with Mr. Eto, the two men from Shobara met with Masaaki Yamazaki, president of the House of Councillors, in the Diet building and called for careful discussion in the Upper House.
The Shobara citizens’ group was formed on July 31. After making their request, Mr. Kobayashi told reporters that the public is truly worried about future developments and wish to express their opposition to the Abe administration.
(Originally published on September 2, 2015)
A citizens’ group in the city of Shobara, located in northern Hiroshima Prefecture, submitted a petition to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on September 1, calling for his administration to withdraw the new security bills now under consideration in the Diet. The opposition group, “Stop the Security Legislation,” is composed of an LDP-registered Hiroshima prefectural assembly member elected from Shobara, and Shobara council members and civic associations. The petition includes the signatures of approximately 13,200 people.
The members of the group who met with Seiichi Eto, a special adviser to the prime minister, at the prime minister’s office were Hidenori Kobayashi, the president of the Shobara citizens’ group and a Hiroshima prefectural assembly member belonging to the LDP, and Hideaki Horii, the vice president of the group and a member of the Shobara City Council. In their letter to Mr. Abe, the petitioners contend that the security bills could undermine the nation’s legal stability and are unacceptable. They urge the government to withdraw the bills and pursue a policy that prioritizes diplomatic efforts in order to advance peace in the world.
According to Mr. Kobayashi, Mr. Eto replied that the security bills do not violate Article 9 of the Constitution and that, to contribute to a peaceful world, Japan should provide logistical support to the U.S. military and the armed forces of other countries. As to the argument made by the two representatives of the group that the government’s responses in the Diet deliberations are often vague or inappropriate, Mr. Eto admitted that some of the responses have been lacking and he expressed his intention to provide more in-depth explanations to the public.
Following the meeting with Mr. Eto, the two men from Shobara met with Masaaki Yamazaki, president of the House of Councillors, in the Diet building and called for careful discussion in the Upper House.
The Shobara citizens’ group was formed on July 31. After making their request, Mr. Kobayashi told reporters that the public is truly worried about future developments and wish to express their opposition to the Abe administration.
(Originally published on September 2, 2015)
