Is Protest Hate Speech?

It is highly unclear that Liberal Democratic Party properly understands freedom of speech. The party started discussion for regulating noisy demonstration around buildings of the Diet. The argument was introduced in the discussion over regulation on hate speeches, which denounced Koreans living in Japan. The party intensively confuses ultra-right wing movement attacking a minor ethnic group with lawful protest against political leaders.

In the first meeting of a project team for regulation of hate speech on Thursday, members argued that denouncing specific ethnicity needed to be regulated, concerning criticisms from other countries. However, some members realized sensitivity for not violating freedom of speech, even though it was aimed at minority group.

Some connected the discussion with demonstration around the Diet and the Official Residence of Prime Minister. Chairwoman of Policy Research Council, Sanae Takaichi, showed her frustration on noisy demonstration, saying “I hope to discuss this issue from a viewpoint of protecting well-ordered freedom of speech.” For LDP, freedom of speech has a reservation of “well-ordered.”

There have been Friday evening demonstrators around the Diet, protesting resumption of nuclear reactors after First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant exploded in 2011. Frustrated with their arguments, LDP Secretary General, Shigeru Ishiba, labeled noisy demonstration as “making no difference from terrorism,” inviting strong backlash from the public.

The administration led by LDP passed the Quietness Preservation Law to prohibit noisy demonstration of right wing organizations in 1988. According to National Police Agency, there was only one case every year that violated the law around the Diet. What LDP feels to be noisy was not the volume of sound, but their opinion. Democracy does not include killing opposite opinion discretionally.

Secretary General of Democratic Party of Japan, Akihiro Ohata, opposed to the discussion in LDP. “There is a natural difference between hate speech and demonstration,” he told. New Komeito, a coalition partner of LDP, also showed negative attitude against regulation of speeches around the Diet.

Excessive attitude in LDP showed immature democracy in Japan. Opinion for them means opinion supporting them. Opinion against them is simply noise. On the other side, noisy speeches from campaign cars in every election are allowed, even how they bother peaceful life of ordinary families. Discussion in LDP could not be tolerated.