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| November 22, 2011 |
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| Deceptive Rhetoric |
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The government of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) works on processes to introduce the Integrated Code Number System to implement a single, combined reform package of taxation and social services. In the system every citizen is registered as a code number. The DPJ government is planned to submit the relevant bills to the current extraordinary session of the Diet for approval. The New Socialist Party once again expresses objection to the policy to control people by the State through a code number.
DECEPTIVE RHETORIC - 'BENEFITS TO THE NEEDY PEOPLE'
Behind Consumption Tax Rate Surge
Premier Noda Yoshihiko declared in the international arena that the government of Japan would raise a rate of consumption tax, which was made during the G20 summit held in the beginning of November in Cannes, France. He told 'the rate would be surged up to 10% by the intermediate years of 2010 decade'. The DPJ government will present relevant bills in the coming ordinary session of the Diet next year. Subsequently, during the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit held in Hawaii, the same prime minister told that the country would join the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) free trade negotiation.
The issues of consumption tax rate and TPP split opinions in the country. Premier intends to enforce his policies by using a tactic to take advantage of external influences. His performance arouses criticisms among various sectors of the society.
Behind the moves on consumption tax rate is concealed a policy to introduce a code number system, called My Number, which is officially named Integrated Code Number System on Social Services and Taxes. The government plans to distribute each code number in June 2014 and start to operate it in January 2015.
The DPJ government decided last June on the Guidelines on Code Number System for Social Services and Taxes and explained that by way of the code scheme 'social services will be provided more properly and exactly to those who need most, those who have a low income and lack property, in extending services and paying benefits'.
Look at the name of My Number in parallel with the above-said 'concept'. The DPJ government did not correct the neo-liberal direction taken by force by the preceding administration of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, which had cut the budget for social services in the Fiscal 2011; the previous regime had cut drastically government's subsidies and grants linked closely with a people's life. My Number is, clearly, fraudulent.
Myth on Code Number
The said Guideline has a subtitle, Establishment of Code Number System to Reflect Viewpoint of Sovereign People. It declares that it is necessary to take into account the ruling of Supreme Court on the disputed Resident's Basic Code Number Network. Remember, here again, what the resident's code number system is; it blatantly denies the right of people to keep their personal data guaranteed under Article 13 of Constitution, or in other words the right on privacy.
Many lawsuits were filed across the country. Two out of the 34 suits fought in the high courts and the Supreme Court won successful decisions. Some of the rejected cases had a historic meaning in terms of the content. The greatest contribution of these suits is that in some of the rulings pointed out perils to be yielded by a process of data-matching (search and identification) through which the state could strip to naked individual citizens.
Let's compare the previous system and the new one. The Residents' Code Number Network was basically controlled publicly, that is, administrative offices use personal information for the purpose of public service. However, the new Integrated Code Number System would be principally used by private sectors, including banks and health care institutions. As far as infringement of privacy is concerned, the latter is far more serious. The Integrated Code Number System constitutes an ultimate, single control system of the state over personal data of individuals.
People's doubts are blocked and their anxiety is sealed after the lawsuits of the previous code number network. The government denies the danger of data-matching process, while the Supreme Court keeps the same rhetoric as the government as is seen in the ruling of March 6, 2008.
The recent catastrophe at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station reveals that what the state authorities regard safe is not safe, but, on the contrary, is extremely dangerous, and that the wrong notion could bring disastrous repercussion in the life of people. The government must not forget the bitter lesson it learned from the nuclear energy myth. The Integrated Code Number System is again a myth, a rosy myth.
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