Japan pushes ahead with anti-conspiracy bill

TOKYO: Hundreds of people protested a controversial bill to criminalise conspiracy to commit a crime as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling party and a coalition partner were trying to push it through in parliament on Wednesday.

The protesters gathered in front of the parliament building, chanting slogans such as “the bill itself is unconstitutional” and “Quit, Abe!”

Last week Abe stressed the need to enact the bill saying that Japan as the host country of the 2020 Olympics has a responsibility to take every available step to counter terrorism.

The government also said the legislation is needed to ratify a UN treaty on international organised crime, though critics said it could empower authorities on surveillance and endanger civil liberties.

Abe’s ruling LDP and coalition partner Komeito were expected to pass the legislation in the Upper House of Parliament, the agency reported.

Under the legislation, members of terrorist groups or other organised criminal groups would be penalised for the planning and preparing of 277 crimes. The bill sparked strong opposition from lawyers, journalists and civic groups, among others, but it cleared the Lower House of Parliament in mid-May.

Thousands of people took to the streets of Tokyo on Tuesday to express their strong opposition to the proposed legislation.

The bill “goes against the constitution,” Shinobu Yoshioka, an author and executive director of Japan PEN club, said at the rally, Jiji Press reported. — dpa