2013年11月25日
秘密保護法案 与野党の修正案は評価できる
The Yomiuri Shimbun November 24, 2013
Modified bill to protect specially designated secrets deserves credit
秘密保護法案 与野党の修正案は評価できる（11月23日付・読売社説）
The Liberal Democratic Party and its ruling coalition partner New Komeito have agreed separately with the major opposition parties Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party on modifications of a bill aimed at strengthening the protection of specially designated state secrets. The bill is intended to stiffen penalties for public servants who leak such information.
自民、公明両党が、安全保障の機密情報を漏らした国家公務員らの罰則を強化する特定秘密保護法案について、日本維新の会、みんなの党とそれぞれ法案の修正で一致した。
This legal arrangement is essential for the envisioned Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, which will serve as the headquarters for Japan’s security strategy, to function well. The ruling coalition was right to discuss the matter over and over with the opposition parties without forcing its way with its dominant number of lawmakers.
安全保障戦略の司令塔となる国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）が機能するために欠かせない法制である。与党が数で押し切るのではなく、野党と協議を重ね、合意したことは評価したい。
If Ishin no Kai and Your Party take office, they will also have to designate such secrets and rescind the designations. Thus, it is important that both ruling and opposition parties work together to create the system.
維新の会やみんなの党も、政権を担えば、秘密の指定や解除に携わる。安全保障に関する分野で、与野党が協力し合って制度を構築することの意義は大きい。
The modifications are designed to enhance information management by the Cabinet through such measures as allowing the prime minister to supervise the secrecy designations and report them to a panel of experts to seek their opinions. The revisions also call for ministries and agencies to lose the authorization to make such designations if they do not exercise it within five years after the secrecy protection law takes effect.
修正内容は、首相が特定秘密の指定を監督し、有識者会議に報告して意見を聴くなど、内閣による情報管理を強めた。法施行から５年経(た)っても特定秘密がない府省は、指定の権限を失う。
The bill initially stipulated that the period of confidentiality would be up to five years and would be renewable, and that the period could be extended to 30 years or longer with Cabinet approval. However, a stipulation that the period cannot exceed 60 years has been added to the revised bill. Exceptions for this are limited to highly sensitive information in seven categories, such as secret codes, defense equipment and information sources.
上限５年で更新可能という特定秘密の「有効期間」は、３０年を超えても内閣が承認すれば延長できるとなっていたが、「６０年は超えられない」と書き加えた。例外は、暗号や防衛装備、人的情報源など７項目に限られる。
The revised bill also stipulates that all the documents not designated as secrets beyond 30 years should be transferred to the National Archives of Japan.
３０年超の延長が認められなかった文書は、すべて国立公文書館に移管することも条文化された。
Revisions ease some concerns
It is questionable whether the prime minister’s intended greater role will prove workable. However, it appears to be appropriate that the revised bill stipulates specially classified secrets will eventually be made public “in principle” while referring to exceptions and a system to archive key government documents.
首相の関与強化が実効性を伴うものになるかどうか、疑問もある。だが、「原則公開」とその例外項目、重要文書の保存を明確にしたのは適切な判断だ。
To some extent, the modifications likely will dispel concerns that the government may arbitrarily increase the subjects for designation as secrets and permanently conceal information inconvenient to it from the public.
政府が、特定秘密の対象を恣意(しい)的に拡大したり、都合の悪い情報を永久に秘匿したりしかねないといった懸念は、一定程度払拭されるのではないか。
The ruling parties have also included a supplemental provision in the bill that calls on the government to consider setting up a third-party body to check the appropriateness of the designations.
秘密指定の妥当性をチェックする「第三者機関」については、検討することを付則に明記した。
We understand that this provision is meant to keep the government in check by a third party. But questions have been raised over whether outsiders would be able to make appropriate decisions considering the massive amount of highly sensitive information that affects national security. If more people gain access to such secrets, the risk of leaks is expected to rise.
第三者によって、政府を牽制(けんせい)しようという趣旨はわかる。だが、安全保障の機微に触れる、専門性の高い大量の情報を部外者が的確に判断できるのか。特定秘密に関与する人が多くなれば、情報漏えいのリスクは増すだろう。
Unless the composition of the panel and how it will work are determined carefully, such a body could become a mere facade.
起用する人材や仕組みをよほど慎重に考えないと、形骸化した組織になる恐れがある。
The Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party, has decided to oppose the secret protection bill unless the ruling parties accept its proposals.
民主党は、独自の対案が受け入れられなければ、特定秘密保護法案に反対する方針を決めた。
The DPJ proposes a narrower scope of specially classified secrets and sets the period of confidentiality at 30 years in principle. It also seeks a penalty of imprisonment of less than five years for violators of the law. As for the provision of such state secrets to the Diet, the DPJ says it would address the issue by amending the Diet Law. Such proposals are worth considering.
民主党の対案は、秘密の範囲をより限定し、指定期間は原則３０年、罰則を懲役５年以下などと規定している。国会への秘密提供については、国会法の改正で対応するとした。検討に値しよう。
Both ruling and opposition parties are urged to make efforts to deepen discussions on the matter.
与野党間で、さらに議論を深める努力をすべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23, 2013)
（2013年11月23日01時56分 読売新聞）
Modified bill to protect specially designated secrets deserves credit
秘密保護法案 与野党の修正案は評価できる（11月23日付・読売社説）
The Liberal Democratic Party and its ruling coalition partner New Komeito have agreed separately with the major opposition parties Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party on modifications of a bill aimed at strengthening the protection of specially designated state secrets. The bill is intended to stiffen penalties for public servants who leak such information.
自民、公明両党が、安全保障の機密情報を漏らした国家公務員らの罰則を強化する特定秘密保護法案について、日本維新の会、みんなの党とそれぞれ法案の修正で一致した。
This legal arrangement is essential for the envisioned Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, which will serve as the headquarters for Japan’s security strategy, to function well. The ruling coalition was right to discuss the matter over and over with the opposition parties without forcing its way with its dominant number of lawmakers.
安全保障戦略の司令塔となる国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）が機能するために欠かせない法制である。与党が数で押し切るのではなく、野党と協議を重ね、合意したことは評価したい。
If Ishin no Kai and Your Party take office, they will also have to designate such secrets and rescind the designations. Thus, it is important that both ruling and opposition parties work together to create the system.
維新の会やみんなの党も、政権を担えば、秘密の指定や解除に携わる。安全保障に関する分野で、与野党が協力し合って制度を構築することの意義は大きい。
The modifications are designed to enhance information management by the Cabinet through such measures as allowing the prime minister to supervise the secrecy designations and report them to a panel of experts to seek their opinions. The revisions also call for ministries and agencies to lose the authorization to make such designations if they do not exercise it within five years after the secrecy protection law takes effect.
修正内容は、首相が特定秘密の指定を監督し、有識者会議に報告して意見を聴くなど、内閣による情報管理を強めた。法施行から５年経(た)っても特定秘密がない府省は、指定の権限を失う。
The bill initially stipulated that the period of confidentiality would be up to five years and would be renewable, and that the period could be extended to 30 years or longer with Cabinet approval. However, a stipulation that the period cannot exceed 60 years has been added to the revised bill. Exceptions for this are limited to highly sensitive information in seven categories, such as secret codes, defense equipment and information sources.
上限５年で更新可能という特定秘密の「有効期間」は、３０年を超えても内閣が承認すれば延長できるとなっていたが、「６０年は超えられない」と書き加えた。例外は、暗号や防衛装備、人的情報源など７項目に限られる。
The revised bill also stipulates that all the documents not designated as secrets beyond 30 years should be transferred to the National Archives of Japan.
３０年超の延長が認められなかった文書は、すべて国立公文書館に移管することも条文化された。
Revisions ease some concerns
It is questionable whether the prime minister’s intended greater role will prove workable. However, it appears to be appropriate that the revised bill stipulates specially classified secrets will eventually be made public “in principle” while referring to exceptions and a system to archive key government documents.
首相の関与強化が実効性を伴うものになるかどうか、疑問もある。だが、「原則公開」とその例外項目、重要文書の保存を明確にしたのは適切な判断だ。
To some extent, the modifications likely will dispel concerns that the government may arbitrarily increase the subjects for designation as secrets and permanently conceal information inconvenient to it from the public.
政府が、特定秘密の対象を恣意(しい)的に拡大したり、都合の悪い情報を永久に秘匿したりしかねないといった懸念は、一定程度払拭されるのではないか。
The ruling parties have also included a supplemental provision in the bill that calls on the government to consider setting up a third-party body to check the appropriateness of the designations.
秘密指定の妥当性をチェックする「第三者機関」については、検討することを付則に明記した。
We understand that this provision is meant to keep the government in check by a third party. But questions have been raised over whether outsiders would be able to make appropriate decisions considering the massive amount of highly sensitive information that affects national security. If more people gain access to such secrets, the risk of leaks is expected to rise.
第三者によって、政府を牽制(けんせい)しようという趣旨はわかる。だが、安全保障の機微に触れる、専門性の高い大量の情報を部外者が的確に判断できるのか。特定秘密に関与する人が多くなれば、情報漏えいのリスクは増すだろう。
Unless the composition of the panel and how it will work are determined carefully, such a body could become a mere facade.
起用する人材や仕組みをよほど慎重に考えないと、形骸化した組織になる恐れがある。
The Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party, has decided to oppose the secret protection bill unless the ruling parties accept its proposals.
民主党は、独自の対案が受け入れられなければ、特定秘密保護法案に反対する方針を決めた。
The DPJ proposes a narrower scope of specially classified secrets and sets the period of confidentiality at 30 years in principle. It also seeks a penalty of imprisonment of less than five years for violators of the law. As for the provision of such state secrets to the Diet, the DPJ says it would address the issue by amending the Diet Law. Such proposals are worth considering.
民主党の対案は、秘密の範囲をより限定し、指定期間は原則３０年、罰則を懲役５年以下などと規定している。国会への秘密提供については、国会法の改正で対応するとした。検討に値しよう。
Both ruling and opposition parties are urged to make efforts to deepen discussions on the matter.
与野党間で、さらに議論を深める努力をすべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23, 2013)
（2013年11月23日01時56分 読売新聞）
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