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Why did Prime Minister Yoshii Suga refuse? The government has postponed the appointment of some new candidates for membership recommended by the Japan Academy of Sciences. A situation that can be considered as an explicit intervention of unprecedented personnel. The government’s stance of refusing to name academics who criticized the administration from the point of view of law and history as “natural” without revealing the reason also shows an intention to eliminate those who disagree. .. Academics have expressed mistrust and are calling for the decision to be withdrawn. (Mitsuharu Umeno, Kouko Mochizuki)
Takaaki Kajita, new president, responds to interviews after the general meeting of the = 1st Japan Academy of Sciences, in Minato-ku, Tokyo
◆ Is it because you claimed that the security bill was unconstitutional?
“I can’t accept it because there is no explanation for why. Isn’t it a violation of academic freedom?” One person who was rejected, Professor Ryuichi Ozawa (Constitutional Studies) from Tokyo Jiekai Medical College, is outraged.
The reason you can think about it. In July 2015, in the House of Representatives Special Committee on Security Bills, he insisted that the bill was unconstitutional as an expert recommended by the opposition party. “If it’s because you made a statement that was not appropriate for your government’s policy, it could be a sign that you would not ask for an opinion that was not appropriate for you.”
According to Professor Ozawa, the secretariat of the Academic Conference had previously announced that it had received the recommendation. However, on September 29, the secretariat told me by phone that I would not be appointed. When I had a new interview with the person in charge on the 30th, they told me that “(the government) did not explain the reason.”
◆ Request for withdrawal “with full power”
Attended the general meeting on the 1st. Professor Masanori Okada (Administrative Law) from Waseda University Law School and Professor Takaaki Matsumiya (Criminal Law) from Ritsumeikan University Law School, who were also rejected, they jointly called “I demand that we do everything possible to withdraw the denial of appointment.” The new president, Takaaki Kajita, who was elected that day, was introduced.
“The academic conference is an independent deliberative body for scholars, but (Prime Minister Kan) can think of it as an extension of the bureaucratic organization,” Okada said in the interview.
Professor Matsumiya noted that “legally, the prime minister is appointed as recommended,” he said. “It is a violent act that threatens the academic freedom guaranteed by the Constitution and the independence of the academic council. I do not have the capacity to resolve it.”
◆ “I can’t accept it without reason”
The Story of Toshikazu Yamagoku, Former President of the Japan AcademySince the appointed person is the prime minister, it is possible not to appoint a new member. However, the academic conference recommends you based on your accomplishments. If you don’t name, you need a good reason. It is very important for academics if it is common not to name without a reason. I can not accept it.
◆ “Protest to the Prime Minister”
Story of the new president Takaaki KajitaIt is a very important theme. I will deal with it firmly. Before I became president, I thought it might be a problem related to the neutrality of academic conferences and academic freedom. It is possible to lodge a protest with the Prime Minister. Details are blank.
