Thousands protest against secrets bill

By on December 7, 2013

Protesters hold placards reading "Stop Secrecy Act" during a rally against the government's planned secrecy law in TokyoThousands of people have staged a rally in Tokyo to protest a government-sponsored secrets bill now being debated in the Diet.

People responding to calls by academics and citizens groups gathered on Friday evening at a park in central Tokyo. Organizers say about 15,000 people attended.

One of the organizers, lawyer Yuichi Kaido, said the government is trying to force the bill through the Upper House plenary session despite calls from many people for careful deliberation.

He said the bill raises concerns about what will be designated as a state secret. Kaido said that protesters cannot accept the proposed law either in terms of legislative process or its content.

The demonstrators adopted a resolution that says the bill could lead to bureaucratic dictatorship and could destroy the freedom of the Japanese people. They also said that they will do all they can to ensure the bill is scrapped.

They then marched toward the Diet building.

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