Democratic organizations urge Defense Ministry to discontinue surveillance of citizens

   The Central Action Committee against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, a coordinating organization in the joint struggle for the dismantlement of the Japan-U.S. military alliance, on June 12 lodged a protest with Defense Minister Kyuma Fumio demanding that the minister apologize for and put an end to the Self-Defense Forces information units’ unconstitutional surveillance of citizens that the Japanese Communist Party revealed recently.

   Thirty representatives of 25 affiliated organizations visited the Defense Ministry accompanied by JCP House of Representative member Akamine Seiken.

   Nishikawa Ikuya, former secretary general of the committee, said, “I am the one whose photos were secretly taken by the SDF. Photos showing people in front of the Defense Ministry were obviously taken intentionally.”

   A member of the Nerima Peace Committee in Tokyo said, “I was also under surveillance. Are the police and the U.S. forces involved in the SDF’s information gathering?”

   A Defense Intelligence Division officer answered, “In order to carry out their mission, the SDF has been collecting information on activities that will hinder SDF activities. The SDF may cooperate with security agencies as a whole. If necessary, the SDF may cooperate or exchange information with U.S. forces.”

   The participants strongly protested against these remarks.

   Committee Secretary General Hayasaka Yoshiro said, “Surveillance by the military of citizens’ activities calling for peace cannot be condoned since it goes against the Constitution that protects human rights from the state power.”

   Hayasaka demanded an apology and the immediate discontinuance of the surveillance.                                  - Akahata, June 13, 2007