Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba raised a public outcry when, in a blog entry dated Nov. 29, he referred to public demonstrations near the Diet building by those opposed to the state secrets bill — which was subsequently enacted on Dec. 6 — and wrote, "I believe the tactics of simply shouting (opinions) at the top of one's voice seems not so different from an act of terrorism in essence."
Since the law's definition of terrorism includes the phrase "activities that force political and other principles or opinions on the state and other people," Ishiba's statement underscored the very real danger that the law could undermine freedom of speech, expression, thought and conscience as guaranteed by the Constitution. U.N. officials have also stated that they regard the law as running counter to Article 19 of the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1996, to which Japan is a party.
Ishiba caused another commotion on Dec. 11 when he expressed opinions on news reports that divulge information designated as special secrets under the law. At a news conference at the Japan National Press Club, he said that if reporting such secrets puts the nation's security in grave danger, "the act will be curbed by some method." Although he later backpedaled slightly, what he said was enough to raise concern that, at the very least, the LDP's No. 2 official is considering using the state secrets law to control the media. Ishiba also hinted that reporters who have divulged such secrets may be punished by stating that final judgments would be rendered in court.