Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question relating to the crime of making preparations to commit acts of organized crime, including terrorism . In a press conference today, Chair of the Central Secretariat of New Komeito, Mr. Yoshio Urushibara , stated the view that with regard to the draft bill to amend the Law on Punishment of Organized Crime , which newly establishes the crime of making preparations to commit acts of organized crime, including terrorism, it is unlikely that Cabinet approval will be given on March 10, the date that the Government is working towards. Mr. Urushibara noted that even if the Government unilaterally decides a schedule for Cabinet approval, it is increasingly unlikely that New Komeito will be able to accept it. The Government’s stance is that coordination of the draft bill for submission is in the final stages, so could you respond to this statement by New Komeito on the timing of Cabinet approval of the draft bill?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, based on the various opinions that have been expressed in the Diet to date on several occasions with regard to the signing of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Government is in the final stages of preparing the draft bill, including the implementation of revisions to its contents that have been previously submitted in the Diet. At the current stage nothing has been decided, including the timing of Cabinet approval of the draft bill. In any event, as consideration of the draft bill proceeds, the Government plans to engage in due coordination with the ruling parties on the content of the bill. Essentially, the Government is currently considering the so-called crime of making preparations to commit acts of organized crime, including terrorism, which would criminalize the acts of preparation themselves when they happen. We are now in the process of finalizing a draft bill that would make it clear that such acts would be limited to groups that seek to commit specific crimes and it would be impossible for ordinary members of the public to be charged for such crimes. The Government will continue to engage in coordination of the draft bill right up to the final stages, seeking to specify the acts that would constitute such a crime and also consider how the bill corresponds to the United Nations Convention. In particular, it is the case that 187 countries around the world have signed the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and Japan is the only G7 nation not to have signed. Furthermore, in three years’ time the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held and in 2019 the Rugby World Cup will also be held in Japan. The Government therefore believes it to be necessary to develop a comprehensive legislative structure that will be capable of preventing organized crime, including acts of terrorism, from occurring. The Government recognizes that it is essential to sign the United Nations Convention in order to collaborate with the international community in fighting organized crime, including terrorism, and we intend to move forward in developing legislation for the signing of the convention.

REPORTER: You have just stated that the preparation of the draft bill is in the final stages, so at what point do you expect the bill to be approved by the Cabinet?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Nothing has yet been decided. As consideration of the draft bill proceeds the Government will engage in due coordination with the ruling parties on the content of the bill.

(Abridged)