Japan passes controversial anti-terror conspiracy law

London: Japan's lawmakers have passed a controversial bill allowing authorities to target terror conspiracies, reports BBC.
PM Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc pushed it through the upper house early on Thursday, despite vocal opposition.
The government argues the law is needed to improve security ahead of the 2020 Olympics, and to comply with a UN agreement Japan has signed.
But critics say it weakens civil liberties and could be abused to monitor and target innocent citizens.
The law has sparked protests, including one on Wednesday night outside the parliament building which was attended by thousands of demonstrators.
The law, which criminalises the plotting and committing of 277 acts, amends an existing law against organised crime syndicates.
It bans the procurement of funds or supplies and the surveying of a location in preparation of any of these offences.
An entire group - defined as two or more people - can be charged if at least one member is found to have been plotting the crime.
It also bans the expansion or maintenance of illicit interests of organised crime groups.
Japan has signed a UN convention against transnational organised crime, but not yet ratified it. The government said the new law was needed for ratification to go ahead.
Abe told reporters the law would allow Japan to "firmly cooperate with international society to prevent terrorism".
What kind of crimes are on the list?
The ruling bloc has been attempting to push through the legislation for months. An earlier draft had listed 676 crimes, but it was pared down to 277.

Japan passes controversial anti-terror conspiracy law

London: Japans lawmakers have passed a controversial bill allowing authorities to target terror conspiracies, reports BBC. PM Shinzo Abes ruling bloc pushed it through the upper house early on Thursday, despite vocal opposition. The government argues the law is needed to improve security ahead of the 2020 Olympics, and to comply with a UN agreement Japan has signed. But critics say it weakens civil liberties and could be abused to monitor and target innocent citizens. The law has sparked protests, including one on Wednesday night outside the parliament building which was attended by thousands of demonstrators. The law, which criminalises the plotting and committing of 277 acts, amends an existing law against organised crime syndicates. It bans the procurement of funds or supplies and the surveying of a location in preparation of any of these offences. An entire group - defined as two or more people - can be charged if at least one member is found to have been plotting the crime. It also bans the expansion or maintenance of illicit interests of organised crime groups. Japan has signed a UN convention against transnational organised crime, but not yet ratified it. The government said the new law was needed for ratification to go ahead. Abe told reporters the law would allow Japan to firmly cooperate with international society to prevent terrorism. What kind of crimes are on the list? The ruling bloc has been attempting to push through the legislation for months. An earlier draft had listed 676 crimes, but it was pared down to 277.