Scholars And Others Begin Petition To Oppose Abe State Funeral
Academics and writers opposing the planned state funeral for slain former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo have announced that they will launch an online petition to promote their cause.
The group of 17 people includes University of Tokyo Professor Emeritus Ueno Chizuko, writer Ochiai Keiko, Professor Nagayama Shigeki of Tokai University and Professor Gonoi Ikuo of Takachiho University. They met reporters on Monday.
They plan to begin a month-long petition drive starting Tuesday demanding the cancellation of the state funeral, planned for September 27.
They say the state funeral goes against the Constitution, which stipulates that all people are equal under the law and guarantees the freedom of thought and goodwill.
Nagayama told reporters that whether someone mourns or not is up to them, and both options are guaranteed freedoms.
He said forcing the country's people to mourn for former Prime Minister Abe is tantamount to the state abusing the freedom of thought.
Gonoi said there is no legal basis for holding the state funeral. He added that he has doubts about using taxpayers' money for it.
The Japanese government maintains that the funeral is simply a ceremony and it does not expect each citizen to mourn nor to see it as a political issue.
It also claims the Cabinet Office Establishment Act says the office has control over matters regarding state ceremonies, and so it is clear in legal terms that implementation of ceremonies including state funerals is a part of administrative authority.
Other scholars and civic groups have also taken action against the planned state funeral, with lawsuits being filed at four district courts.
The president of the Tokyo Bar Association released a statement in early August that opposed the state funeral and demanded the event be canceled.
Abe was fatally shot during an election campaign in July.