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COVID-19 bill threatens individual rights, claim demonstrators in Tokyo

Protesters gather in front of the Japanese parliament, holding banners and shouting against the bill. (AN photo)
Protesters gather in front of the Japanese parliament, holding banners and shouting against the bill. (AN photo)
Protesters gather in front of the Japanese parliament, holding banners and shouting against the bill. (AN photo)
Protesters gather in front of the Japanese parliament, holding banners and shouting against the bill. (AN photo)
Protesters gather in front of the Japanese parliament, holding banners and shouting against the bill. (AN photo)
Protesters gather in front of the Japanese parliament, holding banners and shouting against the bill. (AN photo)
Protesters gather in front of the Japanese parliament, holding banners and shouting against the bill. (AN photo)
Protesters gather in front of the Japanese parliament, holding banners and shouting against the bill. (AN photo)
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10 Mar 2020 04:03:36 GMT9
10 Mar 2020 04:03:36 GMT9

Arab News

TOKYO: About hundred Japanese citizens Monday took to the streets to express their opposition to the planned government bill, expected to be submitted to the Parliament on Tuesday, to set out rules to fight the spread of COVID-19.

The new rules set, among other things, restrictions on the movements of citizens, a ruling the protesters said it violates their individual rights and freedom to assemble.

A special law is being prepared in the Japanese parliament and could be voted and adopted this Friday.

Protesters gathered in front of the Japanese parliament, holding banners and shouting against the bill.

The new law is likely to win a majority of the vote, because the constitutional party led by Yukio Edano will not oppose this bill proposed by the Liberal party.

For the moment individual freedoms continue to be guaranteed and the right to demonstrate remains in force and the most masked demonstrators take turns after each speech, denouncing what they described an authoritarian shift in government and arbitrary measures such as the closure of schools  who have not left time to prepare parents for childcare, and for graduation ceremonies.

The bill will revise the special law on measures against new influenza is expected to be enacted on Friday.

The bill maintains an existing provision of the law that the prime minister is required to report the state of emergency declaration to the Diet. It does not seek prior Diet approval for such a declaration.

"We're not in a situation (to declare a state of emergency) at the moment," Abe told a meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Councilors, the upper chamber of the Diet, on Monday.

"But we need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario," he said, stressing the importance of revising the law to help the country better fight the new coronavirus.

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