"We Don’t Need No Constitution"

Without any actual agenda, Commission on the Constitution of the House of Representatives resumed its meeting for the first time in this session. Liberal Democratic Party was so hasted in promoting constitutional amendment that the lawmakers affiliated with LDP insisted on holding a meeting as soon as possible. The meeting adjourned after short notice by the chairman about fair procedures of discussion. All in all it’s just a performance for the right.

Among all political parties in the Diet, LDP’s determination on constitutional amendment is too eminent. On February, Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, and LDP Director for Promotion of Constitutional Amendment, Hajime Funada, agreed on a schedule that they would make every effort to submit the Diet a bill for referendum on constitutional amendment after the election of House of Councillors next year. LDP passed a resolution to make a draft for the amendment this year in national convention last month.

Schedule is ok. What kind of amendment do they want? It is super-unclear. Most LDP lawmakers approve two-step amendment, in which change of Article 9, the key provision for Japan’s pacifism, should be done after first easy amendments will be achieved. “Let the people taste what constitutional amendment will be. If it does not bitter, then, we are proceeding to the difficult one,” told an officer close to Abe. They believe that thought control will work for promotion of this agenda.

LDP has been considering addition of environmental right as new human right that the Constitution did not assume. Coalition partner, Komeito, changed its attitude on environmental right, concerning disputes in European countries with that right in the constitution. Environmental Basic Law actually determines people’s right for enjoyable environment. Right for environment is already guaranteed by the law.

LDP now looks at Emergency Clause in the Constitution, which limits people’s right in emergency like great earthquake or nuclear accident. They believe that people will applause the government’s oppression on human rights in emergency. It makes no difference from temporary dictatorship Nazis obtained.

There is no provision in the Constitution to be amended. But, LDP does not stop searching for a small crack between the bricks on the wall. They consider that it is the best time for amendment, because one of the greatest constitution hater is taking leadership in national politics. To win next election, those democratic novices are trying to get firm support from right wing voters with an achievement in constitutional amendment. That is why they reiterate “Hey, people, leave us kids alone.”