スポンサードリンク
--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 3
EDITORIAL: Henoko court battle raises fundamental question of Japanese democracy
（社説）政府と沖縄県 地方自治は存在するか
“Do local autonomy and democracy really exist in Japan?” was the big question as the trial over the government’s plan to build a new U.S. military base in Okinawa Prefecture got under way.
「日本には、本当に地方自治や民主主義は存在するのでしょうか」――。
The question posed by Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga during the trial’s first hearing at the Fukuoka High Court’s Naha branch on Dec. 2 should be taken very seriously.
沖縄県の翁長雄志知事が、福岡高裁那覇支部の法廷から問いかけた言葉を、重く受け止めたい。
The court battle was triggered by the land minister’s move to demand that the central government be authorized to override Onaga’s decision to invalidate his predecessor’s approval of reclamation work off the Henoko district of Nago, a city in the prefecture. Former Governor Hirokazu Nakaima supported the plan to build a new airbase to replace Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the crowded city of Ginowan, also in Okinawa.
米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設をめぐり、国土交通相が知事に埋め立て承認取り消しの撤回を求めた、代執行訴訟の初回口頭弁論での意見陳述だ。
When there is a disagreement between the central government and a local entity, it should be worked out through talks.
国と地方に意見の対立があれば、話し合いで打開するのが本来の姿だ。
The Abe administration’s decision to bring the case to the court represents a refusal to seek a solution to this sticky issue through dialogue, a disturbing sign of the poverty of politics in Japan these days.
それを法廷に持ち込んで押し切ろうとする政府の姿勢は、対話による解決を放棄した政治の貧困を物語る。
The focus of the trial will be on the legitimacy of the administrative procedures in which Onaga’s predecessor approved the reclamation work to build a new base, and those that Onaga used to rescind Nakaima’s administrative action.
裁判の主な争点は、前知事による埋め立て承認や、翁長知事の承認取り消しが適法だったか、といった行政手続きの可否になるだろう。
But questions raised by this trial far transcend these procedural issues. The dispute also raises some fundamental questions about the principle of local self-government endorsed by the Constitution.
だが、この裁判が、真の意味で問うものはそれにとどまらない。憲法がうたう地方自治の内実が問われている。
The basic principles of local autonomy that have been upheld by the government’s Committee for the Promotion of Decentralization call for communities to make their own decisions on local issues of their concern and respecting the right to self-determination as much as possible.
自らの地域のことは、自らの判断で考える。地域の自己決定権をできる限り尊重する。それが政府の地方分権推進委員会の議論で打ち出された地方自治の原則である。
In 1999, the Local Autonomy Law was radically revised in line with these principles.
その理念に沿って、１９９９年、地方自治法は大幅改正された。
The revision has transformed the relationship between the central and local government from one of higher and lower or between superior and subordinate to a relationship of equals and of cooperation.
国と地方の関係は「上下・主従」から「対等・協力」へと大きく転換したのである。
Now that the central and local governments are on an equal footing, the instances in which the central government restricts a prefectural government’s powers should be very limited in application.
国と地方が対等となった今、国が県の権限を制限する代執行は極めて限定的であるべきだろう。
From this viewpoint, the Abe administration’s move to file a suit over the case without having sufficient dialogue with Okinawa Prefecture is a far cry from how it should act according to the principle of local autonomy.
その意味でも、十分な対話がないままの政府の提訴は地方自治のあるべき姿とは程遠い。
The administration warns that trust between Japan and the United States could collapse if the plan to relocate the Futenma base to Henoko falls through.
政府は、辺野古移設が実現できなければ米国との信頼関係が崩壊しかねないという。
If so, why is the administration not trying to win Washington’s understanding of Okinawa’s position on the issue?
ならばなぜ、米国に理解を求めようとしないのか。
Even if diplomacy and national defense are matters that fall within the responsibility of the central government, the intentions of the prefecture involved should not be ignored.
外交・防衛は国の役割だとしても、県の意思が無視されていいはずがない。
The Okinawa prefectural government argues that the presence of U.S. military bases in the prefecture directly violates its right to self-government. 県は、米軍基地は自治権を直接侵害していると主張する。
These facilities lead to crimes and accidents involving U.S. servicemen and noise pollution by U.S. military aircraft.
米軍兵士らによる犯罪や事故、米軍機による騒音被害を引き起こし、
The privileges granted to the U.S. forces by the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement hamper the prefectural government’s exercise of its administrative power.
日米地位協定による米軍の特権が行政権を妨げる……。
That’s why the prefectural government claims that the construction of a new U.S. military base within Okinawa, which makes up only 0.6 percent of Japanese territory but is home to 73.8 percent of the facilities used exclusively by the U.S. military in Japan, constitutes a violation of its right of self-government guaranteed by the Constitution.
だからこそ県は、国土面積の０・６％の沖縄に米軍専用施設の７３・８％も集中させていながら、「さらに新たな基地を造ることは自治権の侵害で違憲だ」と主張しているのだろう。
This case has huge implications that go beyond the interests of Okinawa.
この訴訟は、ひとり沖縄だけの問題ではない。
If it suggests that the central government can adopt an overbearing attitude toward a local government when they are at odds over an issue, the suit has serious implications for all local governments across the nation.
考えの対立する自治体を政府が高圧的に扱えるとすれば、全国の自治体にとっても切実な問題ではないか。
Japan’s local autonomy and democracy have been called into question by the bitter dispute over the plan to relocate the Futenma base to Henoko.
辺野古移設が問うているのは日本の地方自治、民主主義そのものである。
We are eager to see the court hand down a ruling that moves beyond simply determining the legitimacy of the administrative procedures involved and addresses the more fundamental issues raised by the case.
単なる行政手続きの可否を超えた、踏み込んだ判断を司法に求めたい。
EDITORIAL: Henoko court battle raises fundamental question of Japanese democracy
（社説）政府と沖縄県 地方自治は存在するか
“Do local autonomy and democracy really exist in Japan?” was the big question as the trial over the government’s plan to build a new U.S. military base in Okinawa Prefecture got under way.
「日本には、本当に地方自治や民主主義は存在するのでしょうか」――。
The question posed by Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga during the trial’s first hearing at the Fukuoka High Court’s Naha branch on Dec. 2 should be taken very seriously.
沖縄県の翁長雄志知事が、福岡高裁那覇支部の法廷から問いかけた言葉を、重く受け止めたい。
The court battle was triggered by the land minister’s move to demand that the central government be authorized to override Onaga’s decision to invalidate his predecessor’s approval of reclamation work off the Henoko district of Nago, a city in the prefecture. Former Governor Hirokazu Nakaima supported the plan to build a new airbase to replace Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the crowded city of Ginowan, also in Okinawa.
米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設をめぐり、国土交通相が知事に埋め立て承認取り消しの撤回を求めた、代執行訴訟の初回口頭弁論での意見陳述だ。
When there is a disagreement between the central government and a local entity, it should be worked out through talks.
国と地方に意見の対立があれば、話し合いで打開するのが本来の姿だ。
The Abe administration’s decision to bring the case to the court represents a refusal to seek a solution to this sticky issue through dialogue, a disturbing sign of the poverty of politics in Japan these days.
それを法廷に持ち込んで押し切ろうとする政府の姿勢は、対話による解決を放棄した政治の貧困を物語る。
The focus of the trial will be on the legitimacy of the administrative procedures in which Onaga’s predecessor approved the reclamation work to build a new base, and those that Onaga used to rescind Nakaima’s administrative action.
裁判の主な争点は、前知事による埋め立て承認や、翁長知事の承認取り消しが適法だったか、といった行政手続きの可否になるだろう。
But questions raised by this trial far transcend these procedural issues. The dispute also raises some fundamental questions about the principle of local self-government endorsed by the Constitution.
だが、この裁判が、真の意味で問うものはそれにとどまらない。憲法がうたう地方自治の内実が問われている。
The basic principles of local autonomy that have been upheld by the government’s Committee for the Promotion of Decentralization call for communities to make their own decisions on local issues of their concern and respecting the right to self-determination as much as possible.
自らの地域のことは、自らの判断で考える。地域の自己決定権をできる限り尊重する。それが政府の地方分権推進委員会の議論で打ち出された地方自治の原則である。
In 1999, the Local Autonomy Law was radically revised in line with these principles.
その理念に沿って、１９９９年、地方自治法は大幅改正された。
The revision has transformed the relationship between the central and local government from one of higher and lower or between superior and subordinate to a relationship of equals and of cooperation.
国と地方の関係は「上下・主従」から「対等・協力」へと大きく転換したのである。
Now that the central and local governments are on an equal footing, the instances in which the central government restricts a prefectural government’s powers should be very limited in application.
国と地方が対等となった今、国が県の権限を制限する代執行は極めて限定的であるべきだろう。
From this viewpoint, the Abe administration’s move to file a suit over the case without having sufficient dialogue with Okinawa Prefecture is a far cry from how it should act according to the principle of local autonomy.
その意味でも、十分な対話がないままの政府の提訴は地方自治のあるべき姿とは程遠い。
The administration warns that trust between Japan and the United States could collapse if the plan to relocate the Futenma base to Henoko falls through.
政府は、辺野古移設が実現できなければ米国との信頼関係が崩壊しかねないという。
If so, why is the administration not trying to win Washington’s understanding of Okinawa’s position on the issue?
ならばなぜ、米国に理解を求めようとしないのか。
Even if diplomacy and national defense are matters that fall within the responsibility of the central government, the intentions of the prefecture involved should not be ignored.
外交・防衛は国の役割だとしても、県の意思が無視されていいはずがない。
The Okinawa prefectural government argues that the presence of U.S. military bases in the prefecture directly violates its right to self-government. 県は、米軍基地は自治権を直接侵害していると主張する。
These facilities lead to crimes and accidents involving U.S. servicemen and noise pollution by U.S. military aircraft.
米軍兵士らによる犯罪や事故、米軍機による騒音被害を引き起こし、
The privileges granted to the U.S. forces by the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement hamper the prefectural government’s exercise of its administrative power.
日米地位協定による米軍の特権が行政権を妨げる……。
That’s why the prefectural government claims that the construction of a new U.S. military base within Okinawa, which makes up only 0.6 percent of Japanese territory but is home to 73.8 percent of the facilities used exclusively by the U.S. military in Japan, constitutes a violation of its right of self-government guaranteed by the Constitution.
だからこそ県は、国土面積の０・６％の沖縄に米軍専用施設の７３・８％も集中させていながら、「さらに新たな基地を造ることは自治権の侵害で違憲だ」と主張しているのだろう。
This case has huge implications that go beyond the interests of Okinawa.
この訴訟は、ひとり沖縄だけの問題ではない。
If it suggests that the central government can adopt an overbearing attitude toward a local government when they are at odds over an issue, the suit has serious implications for all local governments across the nation.
考えの対立する自治体を政府が高圧的に扱えるとすれば、全国の自治体にとっても切実な問題ではないか。
Japan’s local autonomy and democracy have been called into question by the bitter dispute over the plan to relocate the Futenma base to Henoko.
辺野古移設が問うているのは日本の地方自治、民主主義そのものである。
We are eager to see the court hand down a ruling that moves beyond simply determining the legitimacy of the administrative procedures involved and addresses the more fundamental issues raised by the case.
単なる行政手続きの可否を超えた、踏み込んだ判断を司法に求めたい。
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Gathering of global leaders sets stage for antiterrorism solidarity
パリ首脳外交 対テロ連帯アピールする場に
The leaders of about 150 nations and territories have gathered in Paris, about two weeks after coordinated terrorist attacks in the city. This demonstrates a growing antiterrorism mood in the international community.
同時テロの発生から２週間余りのパリで、約１５０か国・地域の首脳らが一堂に会した。国際社会の「反テロ」機運の高まりを示すものだ。
What is important is to have this momentum lead to reinforced cooperation among countries concerned to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) extremist militant group.
これを過激派組織「イスラム国」制圧に向けた関係国の連携強化につなげることが肝要である。
In his address at the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21), French President Francois Hollande, whose country is the conference chair, said that the fights against terrorism and global warming are “two big global challenges we have to face up to.”
国連気候変動枠組み条約の第２１回締約国会議（ＣＯＰ２１）で、議長国フランスのオランド大統領は、「テロとの戦いと地球温暖化との戦いはいずれも、重要な世界規模の課題だ」と演説した。
German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized that participating countries strongly condemn terrorism no matter where it happens.
ドイツのメルケル首相も、「どこで起きようが、テロを糾弾する」と強調した。
The sight of world leaders offering silent prayers for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris must have made a strong impression on people around the world.
首脳らがそろって同時テロの犠牲者に黙祷もくとうをささげた姿は、世界中に強い印象を与えただろう。
In talks with Hollande, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, “Such terrorist acts challenge values we hold in common,” confirming that both countries would cooperate in antiterrorism measures.
安倍首相は、オランド氏との会談で、「テロ行為は共通の価値に対する挑戦だ」と述べ、テロ対策で連帯することを確認した。
U.S. President Barack Obama held talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and agreed on the importance of a ceasefire in the Syrian civil war and of the implementation of a political road map aimed at realizing a transition to a new regime.
オバマ米大統領はプーチン露大統領と会談し、シリア内戦の停戦と新政権移行に向けた行程表の履行の重要性で一致した。
There still remains a gap between the United States, looking for an end to the administration led by Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Russia, which supports Assad. But it deserves recognition that both leaders kept in place a cooperative trend in fighting against ISIL.
シリアのアサド政権の排除を目指す米国と、支援するロシアの間で依然溝は残るが、対「イスラム国」協調の流れが維持されたのは評価できる。
U.S., Russia still at odds
Obama asserted that Russia should focus on fighting ISIL, while Putin brought forward the need for dividing the multiple rebel groups in Syria into extremist groups to be targets of airstrikes and moderate opposition groups as parties to negotiate with.
オバマ氏は「イスラム国」に標的を集中すべきだと主張した。プーチン氏は、複数のシリア反体制派組織を、空爆の対象とする過激派と、交渉相手の穏健派に区分けする必要性を提起した。
In realizing peace talks between the Assad regime and the opposition groups, it is quite significant to make efforts to distinguish these rebel groups.
アサド政権と反体制派の和平協議の実現のためにも、区分けに取り組む意義は小さくない。
Offering his condolences regarding the Russian pilot who died after his military aircraft was shot down by Turkish warplanes, Obama told Putin that the United States will ease its sanctions against Russia once the ceasefire agreement to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine is fully implemented. This can be translated as the United States giving consideration to France, now aiming to form an international coalition to fight ISIL.
オバマ氏は、トルコ軍機に撃墜された露軍機パイロットへの弔意を示し、ロシアがウクライナ東部の停戦合意を履行すれば、制裁を緩和する方針も表明した。対「イスラム国」での大同団結を目指すフランスへの配慮だろう。
What is worrisome is that deteriorated relations between Russia and Turkey following the downing of the Russian warplane have cast a shadow over the solidarity of the international community.
懸念されるのは、撃墜に伴うロシアとトルコの関係悪化が国際社会の結束に影を落としていることだ。
Russia has imposed a package of economic sanctions against Turkey, restricting trade and tourism with the country, while Moscow is demanding Ankara apologize as one of the conditions for Putin to hold a dialogue with his Turkish counterpart.
ロシアは、貿易や観光などを制限する経済制裁をトルコに科し、トルコ側の謝罪を首脳間の対話の条件にしている。
Putin accused Turkey of being involved in ISIL-led oil smuggling. Ankara denied Putin’s claim, saying that it is the Assad regime that is buying oil from the militants.
ロシアは、トルコが「イスラム国」の石油密売に関わっていると非難した。トルコは「石油を買っているのはアサド政権だ」と反発している。
The U.N. Security Council has adopted a resolution calling for reinforced efforts to stop the sources of funding for ISIL. It will also become necessary to make efforts to conduct thorough controls on borders with Syria so as to contain the flow of people and goods to ISIL.
国連安全保障理事会は資金源遮断の取り組み強化を求める決議を採択している。シリアとの国境管理を徹底し、「イスラム国」への人やモノの流れを封じ込める努力も求められよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 2, 2015)
Gathering of global leaders sets stage for antiterrorism solidarity
パリ首脳外交 対テロ連帯アピールする場に
The leaders of about 150 nations and territories have gathered in Paris, about two weeks after coordinated terrorist attacks in the city. This demonstrates a growing antiterrorism mood in the international community.
同時テロの発生から２週間余りのパリで、約１５０か国・地域の首脳らが一堂に会した。国際社会の「反テロ」機運の高まりを示すものだ。
What is important is to have this momentum lead to reinforced cooperation among countries concerned to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) extremist militant group.
これを過激派組織「イスラム国」制圧に向けた関係国の連携強化につなげることが肝要である。
In his address at the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21), French President Francois Hollande, whose country is the conference chair, said that the fights against terrorism and global warming are “two big global challenges we have to face up to.”
国連気候変動枠組み条約の第２１回締約国会議（ＣＯＰ２１）で、議長国フランスのオランド大統領は、「テロとの戦いと地球温暖化との戦いはいずれも、重要な世界規模の課題だ」と演説した。
German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized that participating countries strongly condemn terrorism no matter where it happens.
ドイツのメルケル首相も、「どこで起きようが、テロを糾弾する」と強調した。
The sight of world leaders offering silent prayers for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris must have made a strong impression on people around the world.
首脳らがそろって同時テロの犠牲者に黙祷もくとうをささげた姿は、世界中に強い印象を与えただろう。
In talks with Hollande, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, “Such terrorist acts challenge values we hold in common,” confirming that both countries would cooperate in antiterrorism measures.
安倍首相は、オランド氏との会談で、「テロ行為は共通の価値に対する挑戦だ」と述べ、テロ対策で連帯することを確認した。
U.S. President Barack Obama held talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and agreed on the importance of a ceasefire in the Syrian civil war and of the implementation of a political road map aimed at realizing a transition to a new regime.
オバマ米大統領はプーチン露大統領と会談し、シリア内戦の停戦と新政権移行に向けた行程表の履行の重要性で一致した。
There still remains a gap between the United States, looking for an end to the administration led by Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Russia, which supports Assad. But it deserves recognition that both leaders kept in place a cooperative trend in fighting against ISIL.
シリアのアサド政権の排除を目指す米国と、支援するロシアの間で依然溝は残るが、対「イスラム国」協調の流れが維持されたのは評価できる。
U.S., Russia still at odds
Obama asserted that Russia should focus on fighting ISIL, while Putin brought forward the need for dividing the multiple rebel groups in Syria into extremist groups to be targets of airstrikes and moderate opposition groups as parties to negotiate with.
オバマ氏は「イスラム国」に標的を集中すべきだと主張した。プーチン氏は、複数のシリア反体制派組織を、空爆の対象とする過激派と、交渉相手の穏健派に区分けする必要性を提起した。
In realizing peace talks between the Assad regime and the opposition groups, it is quite significant to make efforts to distinguish these rebel groups.
アサド政権と反体制派の和平協議の実現のためにも、区分けに取り組む意義は小さくない。
Offering his condolences regarding the Russian pilot who died after his military aircraft was shot down by Turkish warplanes, Obama told Putin that the United States will ease its sanctions against Russia once the ceasefire agreement to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine is fully implemented. This can be translated as the United States giving consideration to France, now aiming to form an international coalition to fight ISIL.
オバマ氏は、トルコ軍機に撃墜された露軍機パイロットへの弔意を示し、ロシアがウクライナ東部の停戦合意を履行すれば、制裁を緩和する方針も表明した。対「イスラム国」での大同団結を目指すフランスへの配慮だろう。
What is worrisome is that deteriorated relations between Russia and Turkey following the downing of the Russian warplane have cast a shadow over the solidarity of the international community.
懸念されるのは、撃墜に伴うロシアとトルコの関係悪化が国際社会の結束に影を落としていることだ。
Russia has imposed a package of economic sanctions against Turkey, restricting trade and tourism with the country, while Moscow is demanding Ankara apologize as one of the conditions for Putin to hold a dialogue with his Turkish counterpart.
ロシアは、貿易や観光などを制限する経済制裁をトルコに科し、トルコ側の謝罪を首脳間の対話の条件にしている。
Putin accused Turkey of being involved in ISIL-led oil smuggling. Ankara denied Putin’s claim, saying that it is the Assad regime that is buying oil from the militants.
ロシアは、トルコが「イスラム国」の石油密売に関わっていると非難した。トルコは「石油を買っているのはアサド政権だ」と反発している。
The U.N. Security Council has adopted a resolution calling for reinforced efforts to stop the sources of funding for ISIL. It will also become necessary to make efforts to conduct thorough controls on borders with Syria so as to contain the flow of people and goods to ISIL.
国連安全保障理事会は資金源遮断の取り組み強化を求める決議を採択している。シリアとの国境管理を徹底し、「イスラム国」への人やモノの流れを封じ込める努力も求められよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 2, 2015)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
New framework for emissions cuts must involve emerging economies
ＣＯＰ２１開幕 新興国も責任果たす枠組みに
Can a new framework to replace the Kyoto Protocol be put in place on emissions control? The international climate conference is important as it influences the future course of measures to fight global warming.
京都議定書に代わる新たな枠組みに合意できるのか。今後の地球温暖化対策を左右する重要な会議である。
The 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) opened amid tight security in Paris, not long after deadly terrorist attacks in and around the city.
同時テロから日が浅いパリで、厳戒態勢の中、国連気候変動枠組み条約の第２１回締約国会議（ＣＯＰ２１）が開幕した。
In an extraordinary move, a summit meeting was held at the outset of the conference. It is significant that leaders from about 150 countries committed to tackling a subject of common interest to all of humankind without yielding to terrorism.
会議冒頭に首脳会合が行われる異例の日程となった。約１５０か国の首脳が、テロに屈せず、人類共通の課題に立ち向かうことを確認する意義は大きい。
But it remains to be seen how the conference will turn out. There is a wide gap between the positions of developed and developing countries.
ただ、会議の行方は予断を許さない。先進国と途上国の主張に大きな隔たりがあるためだ。
Measures to combat global warming have been based on the idea that developed nations have a greater responsibility than developing ones as they have emitted a great amount of greenhouse gases in the course of their economic development. Under the Kyoto Protocol adopted in 1997, only developed nations were obliged to cut back on emissions.
温暖化対策は、経済発展に伴って多量の温室効果ガスを排出してきた先進国には、途上国より重い責任がある、という考え方に基づいている。１９９７年に採択された京都議定書では、先進国のみが削減義務を負った。
The situation has changed greatly from what it was at the time. Emissions by emerging economies including China and India with no reduction obligations have increased significantly. China is now the world’s largest producer of gas emissions, surpassing the United States.
当時とは状況が大きく変化している。削減義務のない中国やインドなど、新興国からの排出量が大幅に増えた。中国は今や、米国を上回る最大の排出国だ。
The greatest focus of the conference will be on whether a new framework, which will take effect in 2020, can be made into a system in which all major greenhouse gas emitters fulfill their shares of responsibility.
２０２０年に発効する新たな枠組みを、全ての主要排出国が応分の責任を果たす仕組みにできるか否かが、会議の最大の焦点だ。
Reduction targets not enough
Countries have announced their own reduction targets ahead of the COP21. China’s target is to cut its emissions by 60 percent to 65 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 — as measured per unit of gross domestic product.
ＣＯＰ２１に向け、各国は独自の削減目標を掲げた。中国は、国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）当たりの排出量を、３０年までに０５年比で６０～６５％削減するという内容だ。
This can be translated into an increase of emissions if the economy grows greatly. We have to say that it is not an adequately set goal.
これでは、経済が大きく成長すれば、排出量は増加する。不十分な目標と言わざるを得ない。
On the other hand, if a demanding goal is pushed on it, China may leave the new framework. This is a dilemma.
一方で、中国に厳しい目標を求めれば、新たな枠組みから離脱しかねないジレンマがある。
The U.S. target is to curtail emissions by 26 percent to 28 percent from 2005 levels in 2025. Japan has set a goal of a 26 percent cut in fiscal 2030 compared with fiscal 2013 levels. Developed nations’ proactive approaches to emissions cuts are considered effective in prompting China and other emerging economies to also tackle the global issue positively.
米国の目標は、２５年に０５年比で２６～２８％減だ。日本も、３０年度に１３年度比で２６％減を掲げている。先進国が削減に積極姿勢を示すことは、中国など新興国にも前向きな取り組みを促す上で有効だ。
Even if emissions targets by all the parties to the convention are added up, it will not be possible to achieve an international goal of reining in the rise in the average temperature at the end of this century by less than 2 C compared with the period before the Industrial Revolution.
各国が示した削減量を積み上げても、今世紀末の平均気温の上昇を、産業革命以前に比べて２度未満に抑えるという国際的な目標は達成できない。
A matter to be studied is establishment of a system under which countries are obliged to report the status of emissions cuts periodically for verification and work toward raising reduction targets as much as possible.
各国が定期的に削減状況を報告して検証を受け、可能な限り目標を引き上げる。こうした仕組みを構築することも課題である。
Emerging and developing countries strongly call on developed nations to expand financial assistance and to transfer technology.
新興国・途上国は、先進国からの資金援助の拡充や技術移転を強く求めている。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will announce a plan to raise Japan’s annual assistance from ¥1 trillion to ¥1.3 trillion and provide renewable energy technologies, among others. Japan must contribute to reducing emissions as a whole in the world.
安倍首相は、日本としての支援額を年１兆円から１・３兆円に引き上げ、再生可能エネルギー技術などを提供することを表明する。世界全体の排出削減に向けて、役割を果たしたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 1, 2015)
New framework for emissions cuts must involve emerging economies
ＣＯＰ２１開幕 新興国も責任果たす枠組みに
Can a new framework to replace the Kyoto Protocol be put in place on emissions control? The international climate conference is important as it influences the future course of measures to fight global warming.
京都議定書に代わる新たな枠組みに合意できるのか。今後の地球温暖化対策を左右する重要な会議である。
The 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) opened amid tight security in Paris, not long after deadly terrorist attacks in and around the city.
同時テロから日が浅いパリで、厳戒態勢の中、国連気候変動枠組み条約の第２１回締約国会議（ＣＯＰ２１）が開幕した。
In an extraordinary move, a summit meeting was held at the outset of the conference. It is significant that leaders from about 150 countries committed to tackling a subject of common interest to all of humankind without yielding to terrorism.
会議冒頭に首脳会合が行われる異例の日程となった。約１５０か国の首脳が、テロに屈せず、人類共通の課題に立ち向かうことを確認する意義は大きい。
But it remains to be seen how the conference will turn out. There is a wide gap between the positions of developed and developing countries.
ただ、会議の行方は予断を許さない。先進国と途上国の主張に大きな隔たりがあるためだ。
Measures to combat global warming have been based on the idea that developed nations have a greater responsibility than developing ones as they have emitted a great amount of greenhouse gases in the course of their economic development. Under the Kyoto Protocol adopted in 1997, only developed nations were obliged to cut back on emissions.
温暖化対策は、経済発展に伴って多量の温室効果ガスを排出してきた先進国には、途上国より重い責任がある、という考え方に基づいている。１９９７年に採択された京都議定書では、先進国のみが削減義務を負った。
The situation has changed greatly from what it was at the time. Emissions by emerging economies including China and India with no reduction obligations have increased significantly. China is now the world’s largest producer of gas emissions, surpassing the United States.
当時とは状況が大きく変化している。削減義務のない中国やインドなど、新興国からの排出量が大幅に増えた。中国は今や、米国を上回る最大の排出国だ。
The greatest focus of the conference will be on whether a new framework, which will take effect in 2020, can be made into a system in which all major greenhouse gas emitters fulfill their shares of responsibility.
２０２０年に発効する新たな枠組みを、全ての主要排出国が応分の責任を果たす仕組みにできるか否かが、会議の最大の焦点だ。
Reduction targets not enough
Countries have announced their own reduction targets ahead of the COP21. China’s target is to cut its emissions by 60 percent to 65 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 — as measured per unit of gross domestic product.
ＣＯＰ２１に向け、各国は独自の削減目標を掲げた。中国は、国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）当たりの排出量を、３０年までに０５年比で６０～６５％削減するという内容だ。
This can be translated into an increase of emissions if the economy grows greatly. We have to say that it is not an adequately set goal.
これでは、経済が大きく成長すれば、排出量は増加する。不十分な目標と言わざるを得ない。
On the other hand, if a demanding goal is pushed on it, China may leave the new framework. This is a dilemma.
一方で、中国に厳しい目標を求めれば、新たな枠組みから離脱しかねないジレンマがある。
The U.S. target is to curtail emissions by 26 percent to 28 percent from 2005 levels in 2025. Japan has set a goal of a 26 percent cut in fiscal 2030 compared with fiscal 2013 levels. Developed nations’ proactive approaches to emissions cuts are considered effective in prompting China and other emerging economies to also tackle the global issue positively.
米国の目標は、２５年に０５年比で２６～２８％減だ。日本も、３０年度に１３年度比で２６％減を掲げている。先進国が削減に積極姿勢を示すことは、中国など新興国にも前向きな取り組みを促す上で有効だ。
Even if emissions targets by all the parties to the convention are added up, it will not be possible to achieve an international goal of reining in the rise in the average temperature at the end of this century by less than 2 C compared with the period before the Industrial Revolution.
各国が示した削減量を積み上げても、今世紀末の平均気温の上昇を、産業革命以前に比べて２度未満に抑えるという国際的な目標は達成できない。
A matter to be studied is establishment of a system under which countries are obliged to report the status of emissions cuts periodically for verification and work toward raising reduction targets as much as possible.
各国が定期的に削減状況を報告して検証を受け、可能な限り目標を引き上げる。こうした仕組みを構築することも課題である。
Emerging and developing countries strongly call on developed nations to expand financial assistance and to transfer technology.
新興国・途上国は、先進国からの資金援助の拡充や技術移転を強く求めている。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will announce a plan to raise Japan’s annual assistance from ¥1 trillion to ¥1.3 trillion and provide renewable energy technologies, among others. Japan must contribute to reducing emissions as a whole in the world.
安倍首相は、日本としての支援額を年１兆円から１・３兆円に引き上げ、再生可能エネルギー技術などを提供することを表明する。世界全体の排出削減に向けて、役割を果たしたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 1, 2015)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Finland’s decision on final disposal of spent nuclear fuel makes good sense
核廃棄物処分 現実的なフィンランドの判断
The recent decision by Finland may serve as a good guideline to countries that are racking their brains over how to dispose of high-level radioactive waste generated from nuclear power plants.
原子力発電に伴う高レベル放射性廃棄物の処分に苦慮する国々の参考になるのではないか。
The Finnish government has granted a licence for the construction of a final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel, first such action in the world. Posiva, an organization tasked with the construction project, will start building the facility by the end of next year, with the aim of starting operation in 2023.
フィンランド政府が世界で初めて、最終処分場の建設を許可した。計画を担うポシバ社は、来年末までに着工し、２０２３年の稼働を目指す。
As high-level radioactive waste releases intense radioactivity for a long period of time, a geological repository for burial deep underground is considered an ideal method of disposal.
高レベル放射性廃棄物は、長期間にわたって強い放射線を発するため、深い地下に埋める地層処分が最適とされている。
The Finnish government’s decision is based on the view that an above-ground impact will be avoided almost permanently if a stable geological stratum at least 400 meters deep and not accessible to human development is chosen for burying the spent nuclear fuel and multiple safety measures are taken.
安定した地層を選び、開発が及ばない地下４００メートル以上の場所に何重もの安全措置を講じて埋設すれば、半永久的に地上への影響は生じない、という考え方だ。
Finland, a front-runner in this field, faces the challenge of verifying this concept in its implementation.
先頭を走るフィンランドは、その実証に挑むことになる。
Unlike Japan, Finland plans to bury the spent nuclear fuel directly without reprocessing it. In any case, a high degree of safety is required. Other countries will be watching whether the construction of the facility proceeds smoothly.
日本と異なり、フィンランドは使用済み核燃料を再処理せず、直接埋める計画だが、高度な安全性が求められることに変わりはない。工事が円滑に進むかどうか、各国の関心は高まろう。
The country’s geopolitical situation is one reason behind the project’s approval.
建設許可まで進んだ背景には、フィンランドの地政学的事情もある。
Lacking in energy resources, Finland depends on nuclear power for 30 percent of its electricity. Finland used to transfer spent nuclear fuel to Russia, its neighbor, but considering international circumstances, the country cannot continue its dependence on Russia.
エネルギー資源に乏しく、電力の３割を原発に頼る。使用済み核燃料を隣国ロシアに移送した時期もあるが、国際情勢を考慮すればロシア依存は続けられない。
Level-headed talks needed
The Finnish government and the nuclear power industry started looking for a final disposal site in the 1980s. Based on data on geological strata, more than 100 candidate sites were chosen. Having won the local community’s agreement, the country’s parliament approved Olkiluoto for the final disposal facility in 2001.
フィンランドでは、政府と原子力業界が１９８０年代に処分地探しを始めた。地層データから１００以上の候補地を選び、国会が０１年、地元の了解を得て、オルキルオトを予定地として承認した。
Posiva, established by the nuclear power industry to construct the facility, has conducted studies on conditions of the geological strata and the groundwater since 2004 in an underground research facility called ONKALO in Olkiluoto.
原子力業界が建設主体として設立したポシバ社が０４年から、オルキルオトの地下調査施設「オンカロ」で、地層や地下水の状態を調査してきた。
Stable bedrock underlies the whole area and is believed to have remained stable for more than 1 billion years. But it is practically impossible to prove its stability far in the future.
一帯の地下は、安定した岩盤から成る。１０億年以上動いていないとされるが、将来の安定性まで証明するのは事実上、不可能だ。
The Finnish government has requested that Posiva proceed with the project in stages, and make efforts to improve the safety at every stage, based on information and knowledge collected at each phase.
フィンランド政府はポシバ社に対し、計画を段階的に進め、得られた知見を踏まえて安全性をその都度、向上させるよう求めた。
In many countries, including Japan, there are such extreme views as that the construction of such a facility cannot be approved unless it is certain that it will remain safe permanently. In the United States, the selection of candidate sites for such a facility has come to a standstill, as the safety of sites for more than 1 million years ahead came to be seen as a problem.
日本など多くの国では、永久に安全だと証明できないのなら建設は認めない、といった極端な意見が出る。米国でも、１００万年以上も先の安全性が問題視され、候補地の選定は頓挫したままだ。
In this respect, the Finnish government’s way of thinking can be considered realistic.
この点、フィンランド政府の考え方は現実的と言えよう。
The local government accepted the idea of hosting the facility by attaching importance to job creation and tax revenue increases. Although a political party opposing nuclear power once joined a ruling coalition, the issue has not become a political football.
地元は、雇用創出や税収増を重視して受け入れた。反原発の政党が与党に加わったこともあるが、政争の対象にはならなかった。
In Japan, the central government has failed to win approval from a local government and it has been unable to even collect detailed data on geological strata. In exploring a disposal site, level-headed discussion is important.
日本では、地元の了解が得られず、詳細な地層データさえ収集できない。処分地探しには、冷静な議論が重要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 30, 2015)
Finland’s decision on final disposal of spent nuclear fuel makes good sense
核廃棄物処分 現実的なフィンランドの判断
The recent decision by Finland may serve as a good guideline to countries that are racking their brains over how to dispose of high-level radioactive waste generated from nuclear power plants.
原子力発電に伴う高レベル放射性廃棄物の処分に苦慮する国々の参考になるのではないか。
The Finnish government has granted a licence for the construction of a final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel, first such action in the world. Posiva, an organization tasked with the construction project, will start building the facility by the end of next year, with the aim of starting operation in 2023.
フィンランド政府が世界で初めて、最終処分場の建設を許可した。計画を担うポシバ社は、来年末までに着工し、２０２３年の稼働を目指す。
As high-level radioactive waste releases intense radioactivity for a long period of time, a geological repository for burial deep underground is considered an ideal method of disposal.
高レベル放射性廃棄物は、長期間にわたって強い放射線を発するため、深い地下に埋める地層処分が最適とされている。
The Finnish government’s decision is based on the view that an above-ground impact will be avoided almost permanently if a stable geological stratum at least 400 meters deep and not accessible to human development is chosen for burying the spent nuclear fuel and multiple safety measures are taken.
安定した地層を選び、開発が及ばない地下４００メートル以上の場所に何重もの安全措置を講じて埋設すれば、半永久的に地上への影響は生じない、という考え方だ。
Finland, a front-runner in this field, faces the challenge of verifying this concept in its implementation.
先頭を走るフィンランドは、その実証に挑むことになる。
Unlike Japan, Finland plans to bury the spent nuclear fuel directly without reprocessing it. In any case, a high degree of safety is required. Other countries will be watching whether the construction of the facility proceeds smoothly.
日本と異なり、フィンランドは使用済み核燃料を再処理せず、直接埋める計画だが、高度な安全性が求められることに変わりはない。工事が円滑に進むかどうか、各国の関心は高まろう。
The country’s geopolitical situation is one reason behind the project’s approval.
建設許可まで進んだ背景には、フィンランドの地政学的事情もある。
Lacking in energy resources, Finland depends on nuclear power for 30 percent of its electricity. Finland used to transfer spent nuclear fuel to Russia, its neighbor, but considering international circumstances, the country cannot continue its dependence on Russia.
エネルギー資源に乏しく、電力の３割を原発に頼る。使用済み核燃料を隣国ロシアに移送した時期もあるが、国際情勢を考慮すればロシア依存は続けられない。
Level-headed talks needed
The Finnish government and the nuclear power industry started looking for a final disposal site in the 1980s. Based on data on geological strata, more than 100 candidate sites were chosen. Having won the local community’s agreement, the country’s parliament approved Olkiluoto for the final disposal facility in 2001.
フィンランドでは、政府と原子力業界が１９８０年代に処分地探しを始めた。地層データから１００以上の候補地を選び、国会が０１年、地元の了解を得て、オルキルオトを予定地として承認した。
Posiva, established by the nuclear power industry to construct the facility, has conducted studies on conditions of the geological strata and the groundwater since 2004 in an underground research facility called ONKALO in Olkiluoto.
原子力業界が建設主体として設立したポシバ社が０４年から、オルキルオトの地下調査施設「オンカロ」で、地層や地下水の状態を調査してきた。
Stable bedrock underlies the whole area and is believed to have remained stable for more than 1 billion years. But it is practically impossible to prove its stability far in the future.
一帯の地下は、安定した岩盤から成る。１０億年以上動いていないとされるが、将来の安定性まで証明するのは事実上、不可能だ。
The Finnish government has requested that Posiva proceed with the project in stages, and make efforts to improve the safety at every stage, based on information and knowledge collected at each phase.
フィンランド政府はポシバ社に対し、計画を段階的に進め、得られた知見を踏まえて安全性をその都度、向上させるよう求めた。
In many countries, including Japan, there are such extreme views as that the construction of such a facility cannot be approved unless it is certain that it will remain safe permanently. In the United States, the selection of candidate sites for such a facility has come to a standstill, as the safety of sites for more than 1 million years ahead came to be seen as a problem.
日本など多くの国では、永久に安全だと証明できないのなら建設は認めない、といった極端な意見が出る。米国でも、１００万年以上も先の安全性が問題視され、候補地の選定は頓挫したままだ。
In this respect, the Finnish government’s way of thinking can be considered realistic.
この点、フィンランド政府の考え方は現実的と言えよう。
The local government accepted the idea of hosting the facility by attaching importance to job creation and tax revenue increases. Although a political party opposing nuclear power once joined a ruling coalition, the issue has not become a political football.
地元は、雇用創出や税収増を重視して受け入れた。反原発の政党が与党に加わったこともあるが、政争の対象にはならなかった。
In Japan, the central government has failed to win approval from a local government and it has been unable to even collect detailed data on geological strata. In exploring a disposal site, level-headed discussion is important.
日本では、地元の了解が得られず、詳細な地層データさえ収集できない。処分地探しには、冷静な議論が重要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 30, 2015)
--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 26
EDITORIAL: Vote-value disparity a gross inequality that cannot continue
（社説）一票の不平等 いつまで放置するのか
The Supreme Court’s latest ruling on the issue of vote-value disparity has left us wondering how long it will take until this clear, outrageous inequality is corrected.
It seems that both the judiciary and the legislature lack awareness of the urgent need to fix this unacceptable situation.
国民の間に厳然とある不平等をいつまで放置するのか。司法も立法府も、異常をただす切迫感に欠けるのではないか。
The Supreme Court’s Grand Bench ruled on Nov. 25 that the Lower House election in December last year was held in a “state of unconstitutionality,” citing a huge disparity in the relative vote-value among constituencies.
昨年の衆院選での一票の不平等をめぐり、最高裁が「違憲状態」との判決を出した。
Given that the top court has handed down three similar rulings in the past four years, it has become almost routine to hear it declare that an election was held in a “state of unconstitutionality.”
同様の結論はこの４年間で３回目であり、慣例化した感も漂う。
The Diet has dragged its feet on reforming the electoral system, so a fundamental solution to the problem has yet to be found.
国会では抜本的に身をただす選挙制度改革の動きは遅れたままだ。
We are concerned that the Supreme Court’s tepid ruling on the issue could be used by the Diet as an excuse for its inaction.
最高裁の手ぬるい判決が国会の免罪符にされてしまわないか、懸念が残る。
In its ruling in 2011, the top court argued that the method of first distributing one seat to each of the 47 prefectures before allocating the remaining seats in the single-seat constituency part of the electoral system in proportion to population was the main cause of the vote-value disparity. The court said this approach should be “abolished as soon as possible.”
最高裁は２０１１年、各都道府県にまず議席一つずつを割り振る１人別枠方式が、不平等を生む要因と断じた。「できるだけ速やかな撤廃」を求めた。
In its 2013 ruling on the Lower House election held in December 2012, however, the court took note of the Diet’s last-minute move to reduce the number of seats slightly as “certain progress,” easing the pressure on the Diet. The court’s latest ruling is in line with the 2013 decision.
ところが１３年の判決では、国会が駆け込みで若干の定数削減を決めたことを「一定の前進」とし、手綱を緩めた。今回の判断もこの延長上にある。
In the Nov. 25 ruling, the Supreme Court had encouraging words for work by a Lower House expert committee on the election system to come up with measures to revamp the seat-allocation method, saying efforts to improve the situation are being made in line with the past rulings.
有識者でつくる衆院の選挙制度調査会が見直し策を検討していることにも言及し、これまでの判決に沿って是正が進められていると高く評価している。
Let us ponder this problem from a basic standpoint.
原点に戻って考えたい。
In the Lower House election last December, one vote in the nation’s least populated constituency was worth 2.13 votes in the most heavily populated district. In other words, the weight of one person’s vote in a certain district was less than half of the weight of another person’s vote in a different district.
今回の最大格差は２・１３倍。ある選挙区での一票の重みは、別の選挙区での半分にも満たない。
Casting votes in elections is the most important of the few opportunities for the public to exercise their sovereign power that is invested in them by the Constitution.
選挙で票を投じるという行為は、憲法に定められた国民主権を具現化する数少ない、そしてもっとも重要な権利である。
Allowing a situation to continue where a vote in one district is worth less than half of a vote in another represents an egregious inequality among the people that must be redressed immediately.
住む場所によって票の価値が倍以上も違うという不平等はただちに改善されるべき問題だ。
The fact that the flawed seat-allocation method remains basically unchanged four years after the Supreme Court criticized is testimony to the Diet’s gross negligence.
最高裁が１人別枠方式の問題を指摘して４年がたってもなお事実上撤廃されていないのは、国会の怠慢というほかない。
What is notable about the latest Supreme Court ruling is that three of the 14 justices of the Grand Bench criticized the Diet for its failure to tackle the problem, saying sufficient time had passed to realize equality in voting.
注目すべきは、１４人中３人の裁判官が、「投票の平等」を実現するのに必要な時間はもう十分あったと批判している点だ。
Two of the three dissenting justices argued for invalidating the Lower House election, and the remaining one called for declaring the election “unconstitutional” in the text of the judgment.
うち２人は選挙の無効を、１人は主文での「違憲」の宣言を、それぞれ主張している。
In the ruling, the top court maintained that the constitutional order should be formed through interactions between the judiciary and the legislature.
最高裁は判決で、憲法の秩序は立法府との相互作用で形成されるとの趣旨を展開している。国会が法をつくる。
The interactions apparently work as follows. The Diet makes laws, and the Supreme Court sends its messages on certain laws through its rulings. The Diet then reforms the laws in response to the court’s rulings.
最高裁が判決でメッセージを出す。それにもとづいて国会が法を改める。
This seems to mean that the top court puts much importance on “dialogue” between the legislature and the judiciary.
立法府と司法との「対話」を重んじる考え方のようだ。
But history shows the Diet has repeatedly ignored messages from the judiciary or interpreted them in a way convenient to it.
しかし振り返れば、司法のメッセージを国会は繰り返し無視したり、都合よく解釈したりしてきた。
In order to ensure meaningful “dialogue,” the top court should have made more specific demands, such as setting clear deadlines for corrective actions by the Diet.
「対話」を成り立たせるためには、今後の是正期限を明記するなど具体的な求めが必要だったのではないか。
The Supreme Court has repeatedly declared that both the Upper and Lower Houses have been elected in a “state of unconstitutionality.” This is simply an extraordinary situation.
衆参両院が「違憲状態」で選ばれたと再三指摘されているのは異常事態である。
It is unacceptable that the Diet members, who are obliged to respect the Constitution, allow such serious inequality to remain unchanged.
憲法尊重の義務を負う議員が、不平等を野放しにすることは許されない。
This injustice should be rectified immediately.
早急に改めるべきである。
EDITORIAL: Vote-value disparity a gross inequality that cannot continue
（社説）一票の不平等 いつまで放置するのか
The Supreme Court’s latest ruling on the issue of vote-value disparity has left us wondering how long it will take until this clear, outrageous inequality is corrected.
It seems that both the judiciary and the legislature lack awareness of the urgent need to fix this unacceptable situation.
国民の間に厳然とある不平等をいつまで放置するのか。司法も立法府も、異常をただす切迫感に欠けるのではないか。
The Supreme Court’s Grand Bench ruled on Nov. 25 that the Lower House election in December last year was held in a “state of unconstitutionality,” citing a huge disparity in the relative vote-value among constituencies.
昨年の衆院選での一票の不平等をめぐり、最高裁が「違憲状態」との判決を出した。
Given that the top court has handed down three similar rulings in the past four years, it has become almost routine to hear it declare that an election was held in a “state of unconstitutionality.”
同様の結論はこの４年間で３回目であり、慣例化した感も漂う。
The Diet has dragged its feet on reforming the electoral system, so a fundamental solution to the problem has yet to be found.
国会では抜本的に身をただす選挙制度改革の動きは遅れたままだ。
We are concerned that the Supreme Court’s tepid ruling on the issue could be used by the Diet as an excuse for its inaction.
最高裁の手ぬるい判決が国会の免罪符にされてしまわないか、懸念が残る。
In its ruling in 2011, the top court argued that the method of first distributing one seat to each of the 47 prefectures before allocating the remaining seats in the single-seat constituency part of the electoral system in proportion to population was the main cause of the vote-value disparity. The court said this approach should be “abolished as soon as possible.”
最高裁は２０１１年、各都道府県にまず議席一つずつを割り振る１人別枠方式が、不平等を生む要因と断じた。「できるだけ速やかな撤廃」を求めた。
In its 2013 ruling on the Lower House election held in December 2012, however, the court took note of the Diet’s last-minute move to reduce the number of seats slightly as “certain progress,” easing the pressure on the Diet. The court’s latest ruling is in line with the 2013 decision.
ところが１３年の判決では、国会が駆け込みで若干の定数削減を決めたことを「一定の前進」とし、手綱を緩めた。今回の判断もこの延長上にある。
In the Nov. 25 ruling, the Supreme Court had encouraging words for work by a Lower House expert committee on the election system to come up with measures to revamp the seat-allocation method, saying efforts to improve the situation are being made in line with the past rulings.
有識者でつくる衆院の選挙制度調査会が見直し策を検討していることにも言及し、これまでの判決に沿って是正が進められていると高く評価している。
Let us ponder this problem from a basic standpoint.
原点に戻って考えたい。
In the Lower House election last December, one vote in the nation’s least populated constituency was worth 2.13 votes in the most heavily populated district. In other words, the weight of one person’s vote in a certain district was less than half of the weight of another person’s vote in a different district.
今回の最大格差は２・１３倍。ある選挙区での一票の重みは、別の選挙区での半分にも満たない。
Casting votes in elections is the most important of the few opportunities for the public to exercise their sovereign power that is invested in them by the Constitution.
選挙で票を投じるという行為は、憲法に定められた国民主権を具現化する数少ない、そしてもっとも重要な権利である。
Allowing a situation to continue where a vote in one district is worth less than half of a vote in another represents an egregious inequality among the people that must be redressed immediately.
住む場所によって票の価値が倍以上も違うという不平等はただちに改善されるべき問題だ。
The fact that the flawed seat-allocation method remains basically unchanged four years after the Supreme Court criticized is testimony to the Diet’s gross negligence.
最高裁が１人別枠方式の問題を指摘して４年がたってもなお事実上撤廃されていないのは、国会の怠慢というほかない。
What is notable about the latest Supreme Court ruling is that three of the 14 justices of the Grand Bench criticized the Diet for its failure to tackle the problem, saying sufficient time had passed to realize equality in voting.
注目すべきは、１４人中３人の裁判官が、「投票の平等」を実現するのに必要な時間はもう十分あったと批判している点だ。
Two of the three dissenting justices argued for invalidating the Lower House election, and the remaining one called for declaring the election “unconstitutional” in the text of the judgment.
うち２人は選挙の無効を、１人は主文での「違憲」の宣言を、それぞれ主張している。
In the ruling, the top court maintained that the constitutional order should be formed through interactions between the judiciary and the legislature.
最高裁は判決で、憲法の秩序は立法府との相互作用で形成されるとの趣旨を展開している。国会が法をつくる。
The interactions apparently work as follows. The Diet makes laws, and the Supreme Court sends its messages on certain laws through its rulings. The Diet then reforms the laws in response to the court’s rulings.
最高裁が判決でメッセージを出す。それにもとづいて国会が法を改める。
This seems to mean that the top court puts much importance on “dialogue” between the legislature and the judiciary.
立法府と司法との「対話」を重んじる考え方のようだ。
But history shows the Diet has repeatedly ignored messages from the judiciary or interpreted them in a way convenient to it.
しかし振り返れば、司法のメッセージを国会は繰り返し無視したり、都合よく解釈したりしてきた。
In order to ensure meaningful “dialogue,” the top court should have made more specific demands, such as setting clear deadlines for corrective actions by the Diet.
「対話」を成り立たせるためには、今後の是正期限を明記するなど具体的な求めが必要だったのではないか。
The Supreme Court has repeatedly declared that both the Upper and Lower Houses have been elected in a “state of unconstitutionality.” This is simply an extraordinary situation.
衆参両院が「違憲状態」で選ばれたと再三指摘されているのは異常事態である。
It is unacceptable that the Diet members, who are obliged to respect the Constitution, allow such serious inequality to remain unchanged.
憲法尊重の義務を負う議員が、不平等を野放しにすることは許されない。
This injustice should be rectified immediately.
早急に改めるべきである。
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Take every possible antiterror step in preparation for 2020 Tokyo Games
五輪基本方針 テロ対策にも万全を期したい
Preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games stumbled significantly due to the withdrawal of plans for a new National Stadium and an emblem design.
新国立競技場の建設計画とエンブレムの白紙撤回により、２０２０年東京五輪・パラリンピックの開催準備は、大きくつまずいた。
There will soon be 4½ years remaining before the opening of the sports extravaganza. The government must accelerate a diverse range of preparatory work based on the basic policy approved by the Cabinet.
大会まで間もなく４年半となる。政府は、閣議決定した基本方針に基づき、多岐にわたる作業を加速させねばならない。
The basic policy defines the 2020 Games as “an opportunity for Japan to demonstrate to the world an advanced undertaking in a mature society.”
基本方針は、大会を「成熟社会における先進的な取り組みを世界に示す契機」と位置付けた。
Above all, the policy calls for enriching Paralympic programs, saying that it “will contribute greatly to encouraging the impaired to become self-sustaining.” The term Paralympics was first used in the 1964 Tokyo Games. The 2020 Games will mark the first time a city has hosted the Summer Paralympics twice.
中でも、「障害者の自立を促す大きな力となる」として、パラリンピックの充実を掲げた。１９６４年東京大会で、パラリンピックという用語が初めて使用された。２０年大会は、同一都市で２回目の開催という初のケースとなる。
In view of this history, seeking to make the 2020 Paralymics the biggest ever is significant from the viewpoint of promoting the building of a symbiotic society.
こうした経緯を踏まえ、過去最大規模のパラリンピックを目指すことは、共生社会の構築を推進する上で意義があろう。
A noticeable point in connection with the Olympics is that the basic plan set forth a goal of acquiring the highest number of gold medals in the country’s history. The past record of 16 was set at the 1964 Games in Tokyo and the Athens Olympics in 2004.
五輪関連で目を引くのは、過去最多の金メダル獲得という目標を打ち出した点だ。６４年東京五輪と０４年アテネ五輪の１６個がこれまでの最高だった。
As far as public money spent in reinforcing training programs for athletes, it is natural for the government to present a specific target. If Japanese athletes perform spectacularly, it will contribute greatly to generating excitement for the Games.
選手強化に公費を投じる以上、政府が具体的な目標を示すのは、当然だろう。日本選手が活躍すれば、大会は大いに盛り上がる。
A strategic approach is crucial to achieving the goal. It is necessary to make effective use of limited fiscal resources through such means as allocating training expenses to promising athletes on a priority basis in preparation for the 2020 Games. The Sports Agency, which is in charge of fund distribution, has a grave responsibility.
目標達成に重要なのは、戦略的な取り組みだ。２０年に向けて、有望選手に強化費を重点配分するなど、限られた財源を有効に使う必要がある。配分を主導するスポーツ庁の責任は重い。
Anti-doping measures critical
Anti-doping measures are important for conducting fair athletic events. Against the background of the doping scandal that has hit the Russian athletics circle, eradication of doping has become a top priority in the sports world.
競技を公正に実施するには、ドーピング対策も大切だ。ロシア陸上界の薬物汚染が問題になる中、ドーピングの撲滅は、スポーツ界の最優先課題である。
The basic policy, however, makes no concrete commitment on the issue, saying only that efforts will be made to “secure a well-prepared system” in cooperation with such organizations as the World Anti-Doping Agency. It is imperative to accelerate the study of specific measures to strengthen the doping test system.
基本方針は、世界反ドーピング機関（ＷＡＤＡ）などと連携し、「万全の体制整備を行う」との記述にとどまる。検査体制を強化する具体策の検討を急ぐべきだ。
To ensure the safety of athletes and spectators, utmost attention must be focused on antiterrorism measures.
選手や観客の安全を守るために、最も注力せねばならないのが、テロ対策である。
The basic policy expressed a sense of crisis concerning terrorism, saying, “Terrorist threats are becoming a reality,” and pointed out the need to “ramp up intelligence gathering and analysis, border security and vigilance and security at venues, among others.”
基本方針も「テロの脅威が現実のものになっている」と危機感を示し、「情報収集・分析、水際対策、会場の警戒警備などの強化」を挙げている。
It is indispensable for the private and public sectors to cooperate in enhancing the ability to cope with any possible situation.
官民一体となって対処能力を向上させることが不可欠だ。
The basic policy enumerates various measures, including those on the expansion of roads and transport infrastructure and those to deal with the summer heat. To prevent expenses from swelling, it is necessary to list measures in the order of priority.
道路・交通インフラの整備、暑さ対策など、基本方針には様々な施策が列挙されている。費用の膨張を避けるには、対策に優先順位をつける必要がある。
To smoothly prepare for the Games, the need to clarify the division of the roles and responsibilities to be undertaken by the government, the organizing committee and the Tokyo metropolitan government must not be forgotten.
大会準備を効率的に進めるため、政府と大会組織委員会、東京都の役割分担と責任を明確にすることも忘れてはならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 28, 2015)
Take every possible antiterror step in preparation for 2020 Tokyo Games
五輪基本方針 テロ対策にも万全を期したい
Preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games stumbled significantly due to the withdrawal of plans for a new National Stadium and an emblem design.
新国立競技場の建設計画とエンブレムの白紙撤回により、２０２０年東京五輪・パラリンピックの開催準備は、大きくつまずいた。
There will soon be 4½ years remaining before the opening of the sports extravaganza. The government must accelerate a diverse range of preparatory work based on the basic policy approved by the Cabinet.
大会まで間もなく４年半となる。政府は、閣議決定した基本方針に基づき、多岐にわたる作業を加速させねばならない。
The basic policy defines the 2020 Games as “an opportunity for Japan to demonstrate to the world an advanced undertaking in a mature society.”
基本方針は、大会を「成熟社会における先進的な取り組みを世界に示す契機」と位置付けた。
Above all, the policy calls for enriching Paralympic programs, saying that it “will contribute greatly to encouraging the impaired to become self-sustaining.” The term Paralympics was first used in the 1964 Tokyo Games. The 2020 Games will mark the first time a city has hosted the Summer Paralympics twice.
中でも、「障害者の自立を促す大きな力となる」として、パラリンピックの充実を掲げた。１９６４年東京大会で、パラリンピックという用語が初めて使用された。２０年大会は、同一都市で２回目の開催という初のケースとなる。
In view of this history, seeking to make the 2020 Paralymics the biggest ever is significant from the viewpoint of promoting the building of a symbiotic society.
こうした経緯を踏まえ、過去最大規模のパラリンピックを目指すことは、共生社会の構築を推進する上で意義があろう。
A noticeable point in connection with the Olympics is that the basic plan set forth a goal of acquiring the highest number of gold medals in the country’s history. The past record of 16 was set at the 1964 Games in Tokyo and the Athens Olympics in 2004.
五輪関連で目を引くのは、過去最多の金メダル獲得という目標を打ち出した点だ。６４年東京五輪と０４年アテネ五輪の１６個がこれまでの最高だった。
As far as public money spent in reinforcing training programs for athletes, it is natural for the government to present a specific target. If Japanese athletes perform spectacularly, it will contribute greatly to generating excitement for the Games.
選手強化に公費を投じる以上、政府が具体的な目標を示すのは、当然だろう。日本選手が活躍すれば、大会は大いに盛り上がる。
A strategic approach is crucial to achieving the goal. It is necessary to make effective use of limited fiscal resources through such means as allocating training expenses to promising athletes on a priority basis in preparation for the 2020 Games. The Sports Agency, which is in charge of fund distribution, has a grave responsibility.
目標達成に重要なのは、戦略的な取り組みだ。２０年に向けて、有望選手に強化費を重点配分するなど、限られた財源を有効に使う必要がある。配分を主導するスポーツ庁の責任は重い。
Anti-doping measures critical
Anti-doping measures are important for conducting fair athletic events. Against the background of the doping scandal that has hit the Russian athletics circle, eradication of doping has become a top priority in the sports world.
競技を公正に実施するには、ドーピング対策も大切だ。ロシア陸上界の薬物汚染が問題になる中、ドーピングの撲滅は、スポーツ界の最優先課題である。
The basic policy, however, makes no concrete commitment on the issue, saying only that efforts will be made to “secure a well-prepared system” in cooperation with such organizations as the World Anti-Doping Agency. It is imperative to accelerate the study of specific measures to strengthen the doping test system.
基本方針は、世界反ドーピング機関（ＷＡＤＡ）などと連携し、「万全の体制整備を行う」との記述にとどまる。検査体制を強化する具体策の検討を急ぐべきだ。
To ensure the safety of athletes and spectators, utmost attention must be focused on antiterrorism measures.
選手や観客の安全を守るために、最も注力せねばならないのが、テロ対策である。
The basic policy expressed a sense of crisis concerning terrorism, saying, “Terrorist threats are becoming a reality,” and pointed out the need to “ramp up intelligence gathering and analysis, border security and vigilance and security at venues, among others.”
基本方針も「テロの脅威が現実のものになっている」と危機感を示し、「情報収集・分析、水際対策、会場の警戒警備などの強化」を挙げている。
It is indispensable for the private and public sectors to cooperate in enhancing the ability to cope with any possible situation.
官民一体となって対処能力を向上させることが不可欠だ。
The basic policy enumerates various measures, including those on the expansion of roads and transport infrastructure and those to deal with the summer heat. To prevent expenses from swelling, it is necessary to list measures in the order of priority.
道路・交通インフラの整備、暑さ対策など、基本方針には様々な施策が列挙されている。費用の膨張を避けるには、対策に優先順位をつける必要がある。
To smoothly prepare for the Games, the need to clarify the division of the roles and responsibilities to be undertaken by the government, the organizing committee and the Tokyo metropolitan government must not be forgotten.
大会準備を効率的に進めるため、政府と大会組織委員会、東京都の役割分担と責任を明確にすることも忘れてはならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 28, 2015)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
It’s not the time for lobbing criticism over downing of Russian warplane
露軍機撃墜 非難合戦を続けている場合か
This situation has poured cold water on the opportunity for cooperation between Russia, the United States and Europe that arose due to the terrorist attacks in Paris earlier this month. Lobbing criticism at each other must not be allowed to derail unity among nations seeking to wipe out the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) extremist group.
パリ同時テロで生まれた米欧とロシアの協調機運に水を差す事態だ。非難合戦で過激派組織「イスラム国」掃討の足並みを乱してはならない。
This week, a Turkish fighter jet shot down a Russian bomber near the Turkey-Syria border. Turkey insists the Russian plane intruded into Turkish territorial airspace and the pilot did not respond to repeated warnings to leave the area. It reportedly had lodged protests against numerous previous violations of its airspace.
トルコ軍機が、シリアとの国境付近で露軍の爆撃機を撃墜した。トルコは、露軍機が領空に侵入し、再三の退去警告にも応じなかった、と主張している。領空侵犯については、これまでも繰り返し抗議してきたという。
Russia, which in late September launched airstrikes in Syria, saying its aim is to stamp out ISIL, is supporting the administration of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Turkey supports Syrian antigovernment groups and gives priority to toppling the Assad administration. The diametrically opposed positions of Moscow and Ankara lurk in the background to the downing of the Russian warplane.
９月末から「イスラム国」掃討を名目にシリアで空爆を始めたロシアは、シリアのアサド政権を擁護する。トルコはアサド政権の打倒を最優先し、反体制派を支援する。今回の撃墜の背景には、両国の立場の根本的な違いがある。
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied the plane violated Turkish airspace and angrily retorted there would be “serious consequences.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov canceled a visit to Turkey, and Moscow has started taking other retaliatory measures such as restricting imports of agricultural products from Turkey.
プーチン露大統領は侵犯を否定し、「重大な結果をもたらす」と強く反発した。ラブロフ外相がトルコ訪問を中止し、トルコ産農作物の輸入を制限するなどの対抗措置も取り始めた。
However, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has supported Turkey’s side of the story, and the U.S. military also confirmed the Russian aircraft received the warnings. Russia’s assertions seem to lack credibility.
だが、北大西洋条約機構（ＮＡＴＯ）はトルコの言い分を支持し、米軍も露軍機が警告を受けていたことを確認した。ロシアの主張は信用性に欠けるのではないか。
ISIL is common enemy
It is important that Russia and Turkey stop their tit-for-tat criticism, restore calm to the situation and move toward preventing a recurrence.
重要なのは、ロシアとトルコが批判の応酬をやめ、再発防止と事態の沈静化へ動くことだ。
Russia and a coalition of willing nations led by the United States continue to conduct independent airstrikes in Syria. Setting up lines of communication between these military forces is an urgent task to help prevent unexpected situations like the downing of the Russian plane.
米国を中心とする有志連合とロシアは個別に、シリアで空爆を続けている。今回のような不測の事態を防ぐために、軍同士の連絡体制を整えることが急務である。
The international community should be concentrating on weakening ISIL, which is a common enemy. Countries with a stake in this matter also must avoid discussions that go in circles on ways to end Syria’s civil war and on a transition of political power.
国際社会は、共通の敵である「イスラム国」の弱体化に集中すべきだ。シリア内戦終結と政権移行に向けた関係国の協議の空転も避けねばならない。
The U.N. Security Council recently unanimously adopted a resolution that calls on member states to fight terrorism and newly spells out the council’s determination to crush ISIL. Britain has indicated a plan to expand airstrikes in Syria, and France has strengthened its aggressive stance by deploying an aircraft carrier to the region.
国連安全保障理事会はテロ防止決議を全会一致で採択し、「イスラム国」打倒の決意を新たにしたばかりだ。英国はシリアへの空爆拡大方針を示し、フランスは空母投入で攻撃態勢を強化した。
French President Francois Hollande has embarked on a rapid series of diplomatic summits as he seeks to build a wide-ranging coalition that includes Russia. Hollande and U.S. President Barack Obama held talks in Washington, and they agreed to deepen cooperation to combat ISIL. We attach great important to this chain of international cooperation.
オランド仏大統領は、ロシアも含めた大包囲網の構築を目指し、活発な首脳外交に乗り出している。オバマ米大統領とワシントンで会談し、「イスラム国」対策で協力を深めることで一致した。一連の国際連携を大切にしたい。
Putin considers France to be an antiterrorism “ally” and is taking a cooperative stance on this point. He probably aims to get the United States and European nations to relax sanctions imposed on Russia due to its intervention in Ukraine, and to break Moscow’s international isolation.
プーチン氏は、フランスを対テロの「同盟国」と位置づけ、協調姿勢を見せている。ウクライナ介入に伴う米欧の制裁緩和を実現させ、国際的孤立から脱却する狙いがあるのだろう。
However, Russia’s position does not appear to change with its aim to keep Assad in power while seizing the initiative in the Syrian situation through the use of force. Under these circumstances, it will be difficult for the United States and Europe to “fight together” alongside Russia.
しかし、アサド政権を温存したまま、軍事力に頼ってシリア情勢で主導権を握ろうとする戦略に変化は見られない。これでは、米欧が「共闘」するのは難しい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 27, 2015)
It’s not the time for lobbing criticism over downing of Russian warplane
露軍機撃墜 非難合戦を続けている場合か
This situation has poured cold water on the opportunity for cooperation between Russia, the United States and Europe that arose due to the terrorist attacks in Paris earlier this month. Lobbing criticism at each other must not be allowed to derail unity among nations seeking to wipe out the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) extremist group.
パリ同時テロで生まれた米欧とロシアの協調機運に水を差す事態だ。非難合戦で過激派組織「イスラム国」掃討の足並みを乱してはならない。
This week, a Turkish fighter jet shot down a Russian bomber near the Turkey-Syria border. Turkey insists the Russian plane intruded into Turkish territorial airspace and the pilot did not respond to repeated warnings to leave the area. It reportedly had lodged protests against numerous previous violations of its airspace.
トルコ軍機が、シリアとの国境付近で露軍の爆撃機を撃墜した。トルコは、露軍機が領空に侵入し、再三の退去警告にも応じなかった、と主張している。領空侵犯については、これまでも繰り返し抗議してきたという。
Russia, which in late September launched airstrikes in Syria, saying its aim is to stamp out ISIL, is supporting the administration of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Turkey supports Syrian antigovernment groups and gives priority to toppling the Assad administration. The diametrically opposed positions of Moscow and Ankara lurk in the background to the downing of the Russian warplane.
９月末から「イスラム国」掃討を名目にシリアで空爆を始めたロシアは、シリアのアサド政権を擁護する。トルコはアサド政権の打倒を最優先し、反体制派を支援する。今回の撃墜の背景には、両国の立場の根本的な違いがある。
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied the plane violated Turkish airspace and angrily retorted there would be “serious consequences.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov canceled a visit to Turkey, and Moscow has started taking other retaliatory measures such as restricting imports of agricultural products from Turkey.
プーチン露大統領は侵犯を否定し、「重大な結果をもたらす」と強く反発した。ラブロフ外相がトルコ訪問を中止し、トルコ産農作物の輸入を制限するなどの対抗措置も取り始めた。
However, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has supported Turkey’s side of the story, and the U.S. military also confirmed the Russian aircraft received the warnings. Russia’s assertions seem to lack credibility.
だが、北大西洋条約機構（ＮＡＴＯ）はトルコの言い分を支持し、米軍も露軍機が警告を受けていたことを確認した。ロシアの主張は信用性に欠けるのではないか。
ISIL is common enemy
It is important that Russia and Turkey stop their tit-for-tat criticism, restore calm to the situation and move toward preventing a recurrence.
重要なのは、ロシアとトルコが批判の応酬をやめ、再発防止と事態の沈静化へ動くことだ。
Russia and a coalition of willing nations led by the United States continue to conduct independent airstrikes in Syria. Setting up lines of communication between these military forces is an urgent task to help prevent unexpected situations like the downing of the Russian plane.
米国を中心とする有志連合とロシアは個別に、シリアで空爆を続けている。今回のような不測の事態を防ぐために、軍同士の連絡体制を整えることが急務である。
The international community should be concentrating on weakening ISIL, which is a common enemy. Countries with a stake in this matter also must avoid discussions that go in circles on ways to end Syria’s civil war and on a transition of political power.
国際社会は、共通の敵である「イスラム国」の弱体化に集中すべきだ。シリア内戦終結と政権移行に向けた関係国の協議の空転も避けねばならない。
The U.N. Security Council recently unanimously adopted a resolution that calls on member states to fight terrorism and newly spells out the council’s determination to crush ISIL. Britain has indicated a plan to expand airstrikes in Syria, and France has strengthened its aggressive stance by deploying an aircraft carrier to the region.
国連安全保障理事会はテロ防止決議を全会一致で採択し、「イスラム国」打倒の決意を新たにしたばかりだ。英国はシリアへの空爆拡大方針を示し、フランスは空母投入で攻撃態勢を強化した。
French President Francois Hollande has embarked on a rapid series of diplomatic summits as he seeks to build a wide-ranging coalition that includes Russia. Hollande and U.S. President Barack Obama held talks in Washington, and they agreed to deepen cooperation to combat ISIL. We attach great important to this chain of international cooperation.
オランド仏大統領は、ロシアも含めた大包囲網の構築を目指し、活発な首脳外交に乗り出している。オバマ米大統領とワシントンで会談し、「イスラム国」対策で協力を深めることで一致した。一連の国際連携を大切にしたい。
Putin considers France to be an antiterrorism “ally” and is taking a cooperative stance on this point. He probably aims to get the United States and European nations to relax sanctions imposed on Russia due to its intervention in Ukraine, and to break Moscow’s international isolation.
プーチン氏は、フランスを対テロの「同盟国」と位置づけ、協調姿勢を見せている。ウクライナ介入に伴う米欧の制裁緩和を実現させ、国際的孤立から脱却する狙いがあるのだろう。
However, Russia’s position does not appear to change with its aim to keep Assad in power while seizing the initiative in the Syrian situation through the use of force. Under these circumstances, it will be difficult for the United States and Europe to “fight together” alongside Russia.
しかし、アサド政権を温存したまま、軍事力に頼ってシリア情勢で主導権を握ろうとする戦略に変化は見られない。これでは、米欧が「共闘」するのは難しい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 27, 2015)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Top court urges the Diet to reform lower house electoral system further
衆院選違憲状態 国会に制度改革促した最高裁
While respecting the discretionary power of the legislature, the latest ruling can be seen as the judiciary making as much of a request as it can.
立法府の裁量権を尊重する中で、司法として可能な範囲で注文を付けたということだろう。
The Grand Bench of the Supreme Court handed down a ruling Wednesday that the House of Representatives election in December last year, which had a maximum vote-value disparity of 2.13-to-1 in single-seat constituencies, was in a state of unconstitutionality.
「１票の格差」が最大２・１３倍だった昨年１２月の衆院小選挙区選について、最高裁大法廷は、違憲状態にあったとの判決を言い渡した。
On the grounds that the current state of vote-value disparity runs counter to the vote-value equality called for by the Constitution, the top court told the Diet, “There is a need [for the Diet] to steadily continue improving the electoral system.”
投票価値の平等という憲法の要請に反しているとして、「選挙制度の整備を着実に続ける必要がある」と国会に求めた。
It also acknowledged that a reasonable amount of time to correct the situation has not yet elapsed. The Diet has to make continued efforts to rectify the vote-value disparity.
格差是正に要する合理的な期間は過ぎていないとも認定した。国会は引き続き是正に努めねばならない。
The law concerning the establishment of the council on rezoning the electoral districts of the lower house stipulates the basic principle that the maximum vote-value disparity should not exceed 2-to-1.
１票の格差について、衆院選挙区画定審議会設置法は「２倍以上にならないことを基本とする」と定めている。
Prior to last year’s poll, the Diet cut the number of lower house seats by five in single-seat constituencies to reduce the disparity to less than 2-to-1. When the election was held, however, the disparity exceeded 2-to-1 in some constituencies, due to demographic change.
昨年の衆院選に先立ち、国会は選挙区定数の「０増５減」で、２倍未満に抑えた。
人口変動で選挙の時点では２倍を上回った。
Yet the top court acknowledged the Diet’s effort, calling it “a certain amount of progress toward realizing the correction.” It is a realistic view that takes into consideration the fact that it requires time to rectify the disparity.
だが、最高裁は、国会の取り組みを「是正実現に向けた一定の前進」と評価した。格差是正には時間がかかることを踏まえた現実的な見解と言えよう。
Imprudent court decisions have become conspicuous in recent years, with some high courts ruling, for instance, that the 2012 lower house election was “unconstitutional” and the results of the election were “invalid.”
２０１２年の衆院選について、一部の高裁が「違憲・無効」とするなど、近年は行き過ぎた判決も目立っていた。
Self-restraint shown
The top court reiterated its view that “even if the court judges that there is a problem under the Constitution, it cannot establish any specific systems on its own.” This is a reasonable judgment showing the top court has restrained itself in its consideration of the role of the judicature.
最高裁は今回、「裁判所は憲法上問題があると判断したとしても、自ら具体的な制度を定め得るものではない」との考え方を改めて示した。司法の役割を抑制的に捉えた妥当な判断である。
The Supreme Court has been saying the vote-value disparity primarily stems from the current seat-distribution system, which allots one seat to each prefecture and then decides, in proportion to the population, how many additional seats each prefecture should be allocated in the single-seat section of the election.
最高裁は、各都道府県に１議席を割り振ったうえで定数配分する「１人別枠方式」を格差の主因と指摘してきた。
In response, the Diet has already revised a related law to abolish the provision concerning the seat-distribution system.
これを受け、国会は、別枠方式の規定を廃止する関連法改正を既に行っている。
The top court again said in its latest ruling that the vote-value disparity exceeds 2-to-1 due to the fact that the allotment of seats based on the seat-distribution system was kept in place in single-seat constituencies in Tokyo and other prefectures, which were not included in the prefectures where a combined total of five seats were reduced.
今回も、０増５減の対象外だった都道府県で、別枠方式に基づく配分が残存することを、格差が２倍を超えた要因に挙げている。
A research panel of experts tasked with reform of the lower house electoral system is studying the possibility of adopting, in place of the current system, the so-called Adams’ method, which would better reflect the population ratio than the current one. With this method, the vote-value disparity is expected to be held to less than 2-to-1, at least for the time being.
衆院選挙制度改革に関する有識者調査会は、別枠方式に代えて、より人口に比例する「アダムズ方式」の採用を検討している。この方式なら、当面、格差を２倍未満に抑えられるとみられる。
The discussion concerning the reduction of the overall number of lower house seats is worrying. Takeshi Sasaki, chairman of the research panel, has said that in light of the fact that political parties are calling for reducing lower house seats in their public pledges and otherwise, we “cannot ignore political promises.”
気がかりなのは、定数削減の議論だ。調査会の佐々木毅座長は、各党が公約などで定数削減を唱えていることを踏まえ、「政治的な約束を無視できない」と語る。
Should the overall number of lower house seats be reduced, however, it would become more difficult for diverse public opinions to be reflected in the election.
だが、定数を減らせば、選挙で多様な民意を反映しにくくなる。
It may also scale down the Diet’s primary functions of making laws and overseeing the administration through the deliberation of bills.
法律を作り、法案審議を通じて行政を監視するという国会本来の機能も低下しかねない。
When looking at the number of seats compared to the population, the number of Diet members is not as large as in European countries.
人口比でみれば、日本の国会議員は欧州諸国などより多くはない。
The research panel may also need to seriously consider the negative aspects of reducing the number of seats.
調査会は、定数削減の負の面も真剣に考慮すべきではないか。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 26, 2015)
Top court urges the Diet to reform lower house electoral system further
衆院選違憲状態 国会に制度改革促した最高裁
While respecting the discretionary power of the legislature, the latest ruling can be seen as the judiciary making as much of a request as it can.
立法府の裁量権を尊重する中で、司法として可能な範囲で注文を付けたということだろう。
The Grand Bench of the Supreme Court handed down a ruling Wednesday that the House of Representatives election in December last year, which had a maximum vote-value disparity of 2.13-to-1 in single-seat constituencies, was in a state of unconstitutionality.
「１票の格差」が最大２・１３倍だった昨年１２月の衆院小選挙区選について、最高裁大法廷は、違憲状態にあったとの判決を言い渡した。
On the grounds that the current state of vote-value disparity runs counter to the vote-value equality called for by the Constitution, the top court told the Diet, “There is a need [for the Diet] to steadily continue improving the electoral system.”
投票価値の平等という憲法の要請に反しているとして、「選挙制度の整備を着実に続ける必要がある」と国会に求めた。
It also acknowledged that a reasonable amount of time to correct the situation has not yet elapsed. The Diet has to make continued efforts to rectify the vote-value disparity.
格差是正に要する合理的な期間は過ぎていないとも認定した。国会は引き続き是正に努めねばならない。
The law concerning the establishment of the council on rezoning the electoral districts of the lower house stipulates the basic principle that the maximum vote-value disparity should not exceed 2-to-1.
１票の格差について、衆院選挙区画定審議会設置法は「２倍以上にならないことを基本とする」と定めている。
Prior to last year’s poll, the Diet cut the number of lower house seats by five in single-seat constituencies to reduce the disparity to less than 2-to-1. When the election was held, however, the disparity exceeded 2-to-1 in some constituencies, due to demographic change.
昨年の衆院選に先立ち、国会は選挙区定数の「０増５減」で、２倍未満に抑えた。
人口変動で選挙の時点では２倍を上回った。
Yet the top court acknowledged the Diet’s effort, calling it “a certain amount of progress toward realizing the correction.” It is a realistic view that takes into consideration the fact that it requires time to rectify the disparity.
だが、最高裁は、国会の取り組みを「是正実現に向けた一定の前進」と評価した。格差是正には時間がかかることを踏まえた現実的な見解と言えよう。
Imprudent court decisions have become conspicuous in recent years, with some high courts ruling, for instance, that the 2012 lower house election was “unconstitutional” and the results of the election were “invalid.”
２０１２年の衆院選について、一部の高裁が「違憲・無効」とするなど、近年は行き過ぎた判決も目立っていた。
Self-restraint shown
The top court reiterated its view that “even if the court judges that there is a problem under the Constitution, it cannot establish any specific systems on its own.” This is a reasonable judgment showing the top court has restrained itself in its consideration of the role of the judicature.
最高裁は今回、「裁判所は憲法上問題があると判断したとしても、自ら具体的な制度を定め得るものではない」との考え方を改めて示した。司法の役割を抑制的に捉えた妥当な判断である。
The Supreme Court has been saying the vote-value disparity primarily stems from the current seat-distribution system, which allots one seat to each prefecture and then decides, in proportion to the population, how many additional seats each prefecture should be allocated in the single-seat section of the election.
最高裁は、各都道府県に１議席を割り振ったうえで定数配分する「１人別枠方式」を格差の主因と指摘してきた。
In response, the Diet has already revised a related law to abolish the provision concerning the seat-distribution system.
これを受け、国会は、別枠方式の規定を廃止する関連法改正を既に行っている。
The top court again said in its latest ruling that the vote-value disparity exceeds 2-to-1 due to the fact that the allotment of seats based on the seat-distribution system was kept in place in single-seat constituencies in Tokyo and other prefectures, which were not included in the prefectures where a combined total of five seats were reduced.
今回も、０増５減の対象外だった都道府県で、別枠方式に基づく配分が残存することを、格差が２倍を超えた要因に挙げている。
A research panel of experts tasked with reform of the lower house electoral system is studying the possibility of adopting, in place of the current system, the so-called Adams’ method, which would better reflect the population ratio than the current one. With this method, the vote-value disparity is expected to be held to less than 2-to-1, at least for the time being.
衆院選挙制度改革に関する有識者調査会は、別枠方式に代えて、より人口に比例する「アダムズ方式」の採用を検討している。この方式なら、当面、格差を２倍未満に抑えられるとみられる。
The discussion concerning the reduction of the overall number of lower house seats is worrying. Takeshi Sasaki, chairman of the research panel, has said that in light of the fact that political parties are calling for reducing lower house seats in their public pledges and otherwise, we “cannot ignore political promises.”
気がかりなのは、定数削減の議論だ。調査会の佐々木毅座長は、各党が公約などで定数削減を唱えていることを踏まえ、「政治的な約束を無視できない」と語る。
Should the overall number of lower house seats be reduced, however, it would become more difficult for diverse public opinions to be reflected in the election.
だが、定数を減らせば、選挙で多様な民意を反映しにくくなる。
It may also scale down the Diet’s primary functions of making laws and overseeing the administration through the deliberation of bills.
法律を作り、法案審議を通じて行政を監視するという国会本来の機能も低下しかねない。
When looking at the number of seats compared to the population, the number of Diet members is not as large as in European countries.
人口比でみれば、日本の国会議員は欧州諸国などより多くはない。
The research panel may also need to seriously consider the negative aspects of reducing the number of seats.
調査会は、定数削減の負の面も真剣に考慮すべきではないか。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 26, 2015)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Isn’t South Korea repressing free research on history with indictment?
韓国朴教授起訴 自由な歴史研究を封じるのか
The latest action taken against a South Korean scholar constitutes an attempt to negate free and calm research activities and discussions on history.
これでは、歴史を巡る自由で冷静な研究活動や議論が成り立たない。
The move to build a criminal case against an academic study could amount to an abuse of public authority. The recent action, taken by a South Korean district prosecutors office, has also cast a shadow on Japan-South Korea relations.
学術研究を立件するのは、公権力の乱用になりかねず、日韓関係に微妙な影も落としている。
Park Yu Ha, a professor at Sejong University in Seoul, has been indicted, without being detained, on charges of defamation. According to her indictment, Park damaged the honor of former so-called comfort women in her book called “Teikoku no Ianfu” (Comfort women of the empire), in which she denied their forcible recruitment.
韓国の地検が、朴裕河・世宗大教授を名誉毀損きそんの罪で在宅起訴した。著書「帝国の慰安婦」で、慰安婦の強制連行を否定し、元慰安婦の名誉を傷つけたという。
The prosecutors office dismissed as untrue her assertion that “forcible recruitment, which consists of a violence committed by a state, has never been used against Korean comfort women.” The indictment also regarded as problematic her statement in the book: “Basically, Korean comfort women had a comradely relationship with soldiers.”
「『強制連行』という国家暴力が朝鮮人慰安婦に関して行われたことはない」とする朴教授の主張を「虚偽」だと決めつけた。朝鮮人慰安婦が「基本的に軍人と『同志』的な関係を結んでいた」とする記述なども問題視した。
In stating the reason for Park’s indictment, the prosecutors office said that these descriptions had infringed on the personal rights of the former comfort women, adding that her book deviates from the constitutional guarantee of academic freedom.
これらの表現が、元慰安婦の人格権を侵害し、憲法が保障する「学問の自由」を逸脱している、と起訴理由に示している。
The latest action came after 11 people, including former comfort women, filed a complaint against Park in June last year, followed by investigations into the case by the Seoul Eastern Prosecutors Office. Questions can be raised about the prosecutors’ action taken to pass judgment on historical facts about which even experts have divergent views.
昨年６月に元慰安婦ら１１人が告訴し、ソウル東部地検が捜査していた。検察が、専門家でも見解が分かれる史実の中身にまで立ち入って判断を下すのは疑問だ。
Park has refuted the prosecutors’ assertion, calling it “a distorted interpretation.” Her argument goes that the circumstances surrounding comfort women were varied, and that it is impossible to generalize them as “sex slaves,” “prostitutes” or otherwise.
朴教授は、「曲解だ」と反論している。慰安婦の境遇は多様で、「性奴隷」「売春婦」などと一括くくりにはできないと主張する。
Her book points to some other problems involved in the matter, saying that the corps of women mobilized for wartime labor services are confused with comfort women even today.
著書では、戦時勤労動員だった挺身ていしん隊と慰安婦が今も混同されているという問題点も指摘した。
Unreasonable basis
What cannot be overlooked is that the documents cited by the prosecutors office as the basis for branding Park’s assertion as false included a statement issued by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono and the U.N. Human Rights Commission’s Coomaraswamy Report.
看過できないのは、地検が朴教授の主張を虚偽と断じた根拠として、河野官房長官談話や国連人権委員会のクマラスワミ報告なども挙げていることだ。
During the process of preparing the Kono statement, no document that proved the “forcible recruitment” of comfort women by the wartime Imperial Japanese Army was discovered. The statement was a result of political compromise between Japan and South Korea, according to a report issued in June last year by the Japanese government after months of examining the process in question.
河野談話の作成過程では、旧日本軍による慰安婦の「強制連行」を裏付ける文書は見つかっていない。談話は日韓の政治的妥協の産物であったことが、昨年６月の日本政府の検証で判明している。
The Coomaraswamy Report included a number of unfounded descriptions. For instance, it stated that 200,000 Korean women had been forced to work as “sex slaves,” and that most of them had been killed later. The document also quotes false statements by Seiji Yoshida, who claimed women on South Korea’s Jeju Island had been forcibly recruited as comfort women.
クマラスワミ報告には、２０万人の朝鮮人女性が「性奴隷」となり、その後、大半が殺されたといった、根拠に乏しい記述が多数、含まれる。韓国の済州島で慰安婦を強制連行したという吉田清治氏の虚偽の証言も引用されている。
It is unreasonable to use these statements as a basis for the assertion that women were forcibly recruited as comfort women.
いずれも、慰安婦強制連行説の根拠とするには無理がある。
A Japanese-language version of Park’s “Teikoku no Ianfu” has been published, with some modifications made to its contents. The book has been chosen as the winner of Waseda University’s Journalism Award.
「帝国の慰安婦」は、一部修正された日本語版も刊行され、早稲田大主催のジャーナリズム大賞の受賞が決まっている。
In her book, Park states that the Korean comfort women were collaborators for the wartime Imperial Japanese Army, while at the same time criticizing the prewar “Empire of Japan” for being responsible for creating severe circumstances for these women.
朴教授は、朝鮮人慰安婦は旧日本軍の協力者でもあったと指摘する一方で、その過酷な境遇を作り出した責任は「大日本帝国」にあったと厳しく批判している。
We must say that imposing restrictions on expressing such an objective view will make it difficult to facilitate constructive dialogue between Japan and South Korea regarding the issue of comfort women.
こうした客観的な見解の表明さえも制約するようなら、慰安婦問題を巡る日韓の建設的な対話は困難と言わざるを得ない。
(The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 25, 2015)
Isn’t South Korea repressing free research on history with indictment?
韓国朴教授起訴 自由な歴史研究を封じるのか
The latest action taken against a South Korean scholar constitutes an attempt to negate free and calm research activities and discussions on history.
これでは、歴史を巡る自由で冷静な研究活動や議論が成り立たない。
The move to build a criminal case against an academic study could amount to an abuse of public authority. The recent action, taken by a South Korean district prosecutors office, has also cast a shadow on Japan-South Korea relations.
学術研究を立件するのは、公権力の乱用になりかねず、日韓関係に微妙な影も落としている。
Park Yu Ha, a professor at Sejong University in Seoul, has been indicted, without being detained, on charges of defamation. According to her indictment, Park damaged the honor of former so-called comfort women in her book called “Teikoku no Ianfu” (Comfort women of the empire), in which she denied their forcible recruitment.
韓国の地検が、朴裕河・世宗大教授を名誉毀損きそんの罪で在宅起訴した。著書「帝国の慰安婦」で、慰安婦の強制連行を否定し、元慰安婦の名誉を傷つけたという。
The prosecutors office dismissed as untrue her assertion that “forcible recruitment, which consists of a violence committed by a state, has never been used against Korean comfort women.” The indictment also regarded as problematic her statement in the book: “Basically, Korean comfort women had a comradely relationship with soldiers.”
「『強制連行』という国家暴力が朝鮮人慰安婦に関して行われたことはない」とする朴教授の主張を「虚偽」だと決めつけた。朝鮮人慰安婦が「基本的に軍人と『同志』的な関係を結んでいた」とする記述なども問題視した。
In stating the reason for Park’s indictment, the prosecutors office said that these descriptions had infringed on the personal rights of the former comfort women, adding that her book deviates from the constitutional guarantee of academic freedom.
これらの表現が、元慰安婦の人格権を侵害し、憲法が保障する「学問の自由」を逸脱している、と起訴理由に示している。
The latest action came after 11 people, including former comfort women, filed a complaint against Park in June last year, followed by investigations into the case by the Seoul Eastern Prosecutors Office. Questions can be raised about the prosecutors’ action taken to pass judgment on historical facts about which even experts have divergent views.
昨年６月に元慰安婦ら１１人が告訴し、ソウル東部地検が捜査していた。検察が、専門家でも見解が分かれる史実の中身にまで立ち入って判断を下すのは疑問だ。
Park has refuted the prosecutors’ assertion, calling it “a distorted interpretation.” Her argument goes that the circumstances surrounding comfort women were varied, and that it is impossible to generalize them as “sex slaves,” “prostitutes” or otherwise.
朴教授は、「曲解だ」と反論している。慰安婦の境遇は多様で、「性奴隷」「売春婦」などと一括くくりにはできないと主張する。
Her book points to some other problems involved in the matter, saying that the corps of women mobilized for wartime labor services are confused with comfort women even today.
著書では、戦時勤労動員だった挺身ていしん隊と慰安婦が今も混同されているという問題点も指摘した。
Unreasonable basis
What cannot be overlooked is that the documents cited by the prosecutors office as the basis for branding Park’s assertion as false included a statement issued by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono and the U.N. Human Rights Commission’s Coomaraswamy Report.
看過できないのは、地検が朴教授の主張を虚偽と断じた根拠として、河野官房長官談話や国連人権委員会のクマラスワミ報告なども挙げていることだ。
During the process of preparing the Kono statement, no document that proved the “forcible recruitment” of comfort women by the wartime Imperial Japanese Army was discovered. The statement was a result of political compromise between Japan and South Korea, according to a report issued in June last year by the Japanese government after months of examining the process in question.
河野談話の作成過程では、旧日本軍による慰安婦の「強制連行」を裏付ける文書は見つかっていない。談話は日韓の政治的妥協の産物であったことが、昨年６月の日本政府の検証で判明している。
The Coomaraswamy Report included a number of unfounded descriptions. For instance, it stated that 200,000 Korean women had been forced to work as “sex slaves,” and that most of them had been killed later. The document also quotes false statements by Seiji Yoshida, who claimed women on South Korea’s Jeju Island had been forcibly recruited as comfort women.
クマラスワミ報告には、２０万人の朝鮮人女性が「性奴隷」となり、その後、大半が殺されたといった、根拠に乏しい記述が多数、含まれる。韓国の済州島で慰安婦を強制連行したという吉田清治氏の虚偽の証言も引用されている。
It is unreasonable to use these statements as a basis for the assertion that women were forcibly recruited as comfort women.
いずれも、慰安婦強制連行説の根拠とするには無理がある。
A Japanese-language version of Park’s “Teikoku no Ianfu” has been published, with some modifications made to its contents. The book has been chosen as the winner of Waseda University’s Journalism Award.
「帝国の慰安婦」は、一部修正された日本語版も刊行され、早稲田大主催のジャーナリズム大賞の受賞が決まっている。
In her book, Park states that the Korean comfort women were collaborators for the wartime Imperial Japanese Army, while at the same time criticizing the prewar “Empire of Japan” for being responsible for creating severe circumstances for these women.
朴教授は、朝鮮人慰安婦は旧日本軍の協力者でもあったと指摘する一方で、その過酷な境遇を作り出した責任は「大日本帝国」にあったと厳しく批判している。
We must say that imposing restrictions on expressing such an objective view will make it difficult to facilitate constructive dialogue between Japan and South Korea regarding the issue of comfort women.
こうした客観的な見解の表明さえも制約するようなら、慰安婦問題を巡る日韓の建設的な対話は困難と言わざるを得ない。
(The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 25, 2015)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan-Australia security relationship must be enhanced on multiple layers
日豪２プラス２ 安保協力を重層的に進めたい
Security cooperation between Japan and Australia is an important foundation for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The collaboration must be deepened multilaterally by promoting bilateral communications.
日本と豪州の安全保障協力は、アジア太平洋地域の平和と安定への重要な基盤である。意思疎通を図り、多角的に連携を深化させるべきだ。
After the so-called two-plus-two meeting of their foreign and defense ministers in Sydney, the two countries issued a joint statement calling for strengthening defense cooperation through joint military exercises and exchange between troops, among other things.
日豪両政府はシドニーで外務・防衛閣僚会合（２プラス２）を開き、共同訓練や部隊交流など、両国の防衛協力を強化するとの共同声明を発表した。
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the Japan-Australia relationship is “a special one sharing fundamental values and strategic interests.” His Australian counterpart, Julie Bishop, responded by saying the bilateral relationship is more important than ever.
岸田外相は、日豪関係について「基本的な価値、戦略的利益を共有する特別な関係だ」と強調した。ビショップ豪外相は、「かつてないほど重要だ」と指摘した。
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who had built a close relationship with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, resigned in September over an economic slump and other matters. As his successor, Malcolm Turnbull, who belongs to the same Liberal Party as Abbott, attaches more importance to relations with China, there was concern in some quarters before the two-plus-two meeting that Tokyo-Canberra relations would regress under his administration.
安倍首相と親密だったアボット豪前首相は９月、経済不振などで退任した。同じ自由党のターンブル首相は、対中関係を重視しており、対日関係が後退することへの懸念が一部にあった。
Abe and Turnbull held their first conference in mid-November in Turkey. With the holding of the recent two-plus-two meeting, Tokyo-Canberra relations seem to be on track. The two governments must continue political dialogue as they work toward building confidence.
安倍、ターンブル両氏は今月中旬、トルコで初めて会談した。今回の２プラス２開催で、両政権の関係は軌道に乗った、と評価できる。今後も、政治対話を重ね、信頼醸成を図ることが大切だ。
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani explained the security-related laws enacted in September. Bishop welcomed the security legislation, saying that it would allow Japan to make a greater contribution to peacekeeping activities, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
中谷防衛相は、９月に成立した安全保障関連法を説明した。ビショップ氏は「平和維持活動、人道支援、災害救援でより多くの貢献をしてもらえる」と歓迎した。
The security legislation is primarily aimed at solidifying the Japan-U.S. alliance and international cooperation, thereby ensuring security for Japan and the world.
安保関連法は日米同盟と国際連携を強化し、日本と世界の安全を確保することが主眼である。
Trilateral cooperation
The scope of Japan’s logistic support has been expanded to include troops other than those of the United States based on the assumption that Australian troops would be mobilized in case of emergencies around Japan.
後方支援の対象を米軍以外にも拡大したのは、日本周辺での緊急事態に豪州軍が駆けつけるケースなどを想定している。
A multilayered cooperative relationship must be built through such efforts as joint drills between Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military and trilateral exercises involving U.S. troops.
自衛隊と豪州軍、さらに米軍を交えた共同訓練などを通じ、重層的な協力関係を構築したい。
Australia will select a partner for joint development of its next-generation submarine from among Japan, France and Germany.
豪州は、次期潜水艦の共同開発の相手について、日仏独の３か国の中から選定する。
Japan’s submarine manufacturing technology is said to be among the best in the world. In this connection, the government needs to hold sufficient talks with Australia to prevent the leak of technologies to third-party countries.
日本の潜水艦製造技術は世界最高水準とされる。政府は、第三国への技術流出防止について、豪州側と十分協議する必要がある。
With China’s maritime advances in the East and South China Seas and construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea in mind, the joint statement expressed “strong opposition to any coercive and unilateral actions.” The statement also said all nations have the freedom of navigation and flight under international law.
共同声明は、中国の東・南シナ海での海洋進出や人工島造成を念頭に、「あらゆる威圧的、一方的な行動に強く反対する」と表明した。すべての国が、国際法に基づいて「航行と飛行の自由」を持つとも明記している。
The U.S. Navy’s patrols within 12 nautical miles of the reclaimed islands embody the principle of international law. Japan and Australia need to support the United States through every possible means.
人工島の１２カイリ内での米軍の巡視活動は、国際法の原則を体現するものだ。日豪は、様々な手段で米国を後押しする必要がある。
Japan and Australia plan to provide assistance measures for Papua New Guinea and other island countries in the Pacific, such as enhancing the capabilities of ensuring maritime security and improving social infrastructure.
日豪は、パプアニューギニアなど太平洋の島嶼とうしょ国に対し、海上保安能力の向上や社会基盤整備などを支援する方針だ。
Ensuring the safety of sea-lanes in the Western Pacific is of common interest to all the nations concerned. Japan should make a proactive commitment in this regard.
西太平洋の海上交通路（シーレーン）の安全確保は、各国共通の利益だ。積極的に寄与したい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 24, 2015)
{
Japan-Australia security relationship must be enhanced on multiple layers
日豪２プラス２ 安保協力を重層的に進めたい
Security cooperation between Japan and Australia is an important foundation for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The collaboration must be deepened multilaterally by promoting bilateral communications.
日本と豪州の安全保障協力は、アジア太平洋地域の平和と安定への重要な基盤である。意思疎通を図り、多角的に連携を深化させるべきだ。
After the so-called two-plus-two meeting of their foreign and defense ministers in Sydney, the two countries issued a joint statement calling for strengthening defense cooperation through joint military exercises and exchange between troops, among other things.
日豪両政府はシドニーで外務・防衛閣僚会合（２プラス２）を開き、共同訓練や部隊交流など、両国の防衛協力を強化するとの共同声明を発表した。
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the Japan-Australia relationship is “a special one sharing fundamental values and strategic interests.” His Australian counterpart, Julie Bishop, responded by saying the bilateral relationship is more important than ever.
岸田外相は、日豪関係について「基本的な価値、戦略的利益を共有する特別な関係だ」と強調した。ビショップ豪外相は、「かつてないほど重要だ」と指摘した。
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who had built a close relationship with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, resigned in September over an economic slump and other matters. As his successor, Malcolm Turnbull, who belongs to the same Liberal Party as Abbott, attaches more importance to relations with China, there was concern in some quarters before the two-plus-two meeting that Tokyo-Canberra relations would regress under his administration.
安倍首相と親密だったアボット豪前首相は９月、経済不振などで退任した。同じ自由党のターンブル首相は、対中関係を重視しており、対日関係が後退することへの懸念が一部にあった。
Abe and Turnbull held their first conference in mid-November in Turkey. With the holding of the recent two-plus-two meeting, Tokyo-Canberra relations seem to be on track. The two governments must continue political dialogue as they work toward building confidence.
安倍、ターンブル両氏は今月中旬、トルコで初めて会談した。今回の２プラス２開催で、両政権の関係は軌道に乗った、と評価できる。今後も、政治対話を重ね、信頼醸成を図ることが大切だ。
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani explained the security-related laws enacted in September. Bishop welcomed the security legislation, saying that it would allow Japan to make a greater contribution to peacekeeping activities, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
中谷防衛相は、９月に成立した安全保障関連法を説明した。ビショップ氏は「平和維持活動、人道支援、災害救援でより多くの貢献をしてもらえる」と歓迎した。
The security legislation is primarily aimed at solidifying the Japan-U.S. alliance and international cooperation, thereby ensuring security for Japan and the world.
安保関連法は日米同盟と国際連携を強化し、日本と世界の安全を確保することが主眼である。
Trilateral cooperation
The scope of Japan’s logistic support has been expanded to include troops other than those of the United States based on the assumption that Australian troops would be mobilized in case of emergencies around Japan.
後方支援の対象を米軍以外にも拡大したのは、日本周辺での緊急事態に豪州軍が駆けつけるケースなどを想定している。
A multilayered cooperative relationship must be built through such efforts as joint drills between Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military and trilateral exercises involving U.S. troops.
自衛隊と豪州軍、さらに米軍を交えた共同訓練などを通じ、重層的な協力関係を構築したい。
Australia will select a partner for joint development of its next-generation submarine from among Japan, France and Germany.
豪州は、次期潜水艦の共同開発の相手について、日仏独の３か国の中から選定する。
Japan’s submarine manufacturing technology is said to be among the best in the world. In this connection, the government needs to hold sufficient talks with Australia to prevent the leak of technologies to third-party countries.
日本の潜水艦製造技術は世界最高水準とされる。政府は、第三国への技術流出防止について、豪州側と十分協議する必要がある。
With China’s maritime advances in the East and South China Seas and construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea in mind, the joint statement expressed “strong opposition to any coercive and unilateral actions.” The statement also said all nations have the freedom of navigation and flight under international law.
共同声明は、中国の東・南シナ海での海洋進出や人工島造成を念頭に、「あらゆる威圧的、一方的な行動に強く反対する」と表明した。すべての国が、国際法に基づいて「航行と飛行の自由」を持つとも明記している。
The U.S. Navy’s patrols within 12 nautical miles of the reclaimed islands embody the principle of international law. Japan and Australia need to support the United States through every possible means.
人工島の１２カイリ内での米軍の巡視活動は、国際法の原則を体現するものだ。日豪は、様々な手段で米国を後押しする必要がある。
Japan and Australia plan to provide assistance measures for Papua New Guinea and other island countries in the Pacific, such as enhancing the capabilities of ensuring maritime security and improving social infrastructure.
日豪は、パプアニューギニアなど太平洋の島嶼とうしょ国に対し、海上保安能力の向上や社会基盤整備などを支援する方針だ。
Ensuring the safety of sea-lanes in the Western Pacific is of common interest to all the nations concerned. Japan should make a proactive commitment in this regard.
西太平洋の海上交通路（シーレーン）の安全確保は、各国共通の利益だ。積極的に寄与したい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 24, 2015)
{
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Nations must pressure China to conform to intl law in S. China Sea
東アジア会議 南シナ海で対中圧力を強めよ
China’s words and deeds to justify its own behavior while threatening freedom of navigation, which is based on international law, can never be tolerated. It is important to repeatedly voice to the international community over the menace and self-righteousness of the country.
国際法に基づく「航行の自由」を揺るがしながら、自らの行為を正当化する中国の言動は容認できない。その脅威と独善性を国際社会に繰り返し訴えることが重要である。
The leaders of 18 countries, including Japan, the United States, China and Russia plus members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, gathered in Malaysia on Sunday at a meeting of the East Asia Summit. China on the one hand and such countries as Japan and U.S. on the other exchanged at the meeting over China’s building artificial islands and promoting the establishment of military strongholds in the South China Sea.
日米中露などと東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）の計１８か国による東アジア首脳会議が、マレーシアで開かれた。中国が南シナ海で人工島造成と軍事拠点化を進めている問題を巡って、日米などとの間で応酬が繰り広げられた。
At the meeting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed the need to thoroughly preserve the rule of law on the seas. With China in mind, Abe said, “A large-scale and rapid reclamation project aimed at creating a base for military purposes is under way” in the South China Sea, and The prime minister expressed “serious concern.”
安倍首相は、海洋での「法の支配」を徹底するよう訴えた。中国を念頭に、「大規模かつ急速な埋め立てや拠点構築、軍事目的での利用が継続している」と指摘し、「深刻な懸念」を表明した。
U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking in light of U.S. plans to continue patrol operations by its warships within 12 nautical miles of the artificial islands, emphasized the importance of the “freedom of navigation and overflight.” Philippine President Benigno Aquino and others agreed with Obama.
オバマ米大統領は、人工島の１２カイリ内を米艦艇が巡視する作戦の継続を前提に、「航行と飛行の自由」の重要性を力説した。フィリピンのアキノ大統領らも同調した。
Japanese-U.S. joint endeavors in cooperation with other countries concerned to beef up pressure on China are indispensable for maintaining regional stability.
日米が共同で関係国と連携して中国への圧力を強めることは、地域の安定維持に欠かせない。
it must not be overlooked that China has been criticizing Japan and the United States for their involvement in the South China Sea issue, labeling the two as “countries from outside the region.”
看過できないのは、中国が日米を南シナ海の「域外国」とし、その関与を批判していることだ。
China’s deception politics
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for “countries outside the region” to “refrain from taking actions that may cause tensions in the region.” His statement is apparently aimed at stopping the U.S. military’s patrol activities.
李克強首相は「域外国」に対し、「地域情勢を緊張させる行動をとらない」ことを求めた。米軍の巡視活動を牽制けんせいする狙いだろう。
The task of ensuring safety in the key maritime route(sea-lane) in the South China Sea is doubtless in the interest not only of the countries bordering the South China Sea but also the international community, including Japan and the United States. China’s assertion is wide of the mark.
南シナ海の海上交通路（シーレーン）の安全確保は、南シナ海の沿岸国だけでなく、日米を含む国際社会共通の利益にほかならない。中国の主張は筋違いだ。
Although China has agreed to consult with ASEAN to formulate a legally binding code of conduct for the contested area, there are no prospects for a timeframe for the code’s completion. It cannot be denied that China is using the dialogue to buy time, with the intention of making its control over the South China Sea a fait accompli.
中国は、法的拘束力のある行動規範の策定に向けたＡＳＥＡＮとの協議に応じているが、策定時期の見通しは立っていない。対話で時間を稼ぎ、南シナ海支配を既成事実化する意図は明白だ。
In last week’s summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the issue of the South China Sea was not discussed. We can see China presumably maneuvered in advance to tamp down the issue.
先に開かれたアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議では、南シナ海問題が議論されなかった。中国が事前に根回ししたことがうかがえる。
Early this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam, with which China has had confrontations over the territorial problem, while sending Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the Philippines, the APEC chair.
習近平国家主席は今月上旬、領有権問題で対立するベトナムを訪問し、ＡＰＥＣ議長国のフィリピンには、王毅外相を派遣した。
China is using an old trick to try to split ASEAN members by using its economic clout. As long as Beijing continues to use deception as an expediency and fails to stop unilateral actions based on force, it will only increase regional distrust of China.
経済カードで懐柔し、ＡＳＥＡＮを分断するのは、中国の常套じょうとう手段だ。だが、その場限りのごまかしを続け、力による一方的な行動を改めなければ、地域の不信感を高めるだけではないか。
China’s tactic of distabilizing could hurt the unity of the member countries of ASEAN, which have declared they will launch an ASEAN Economic Community toward year-end. They are seeking to create a single market with a combined regional population of more than 600 million. Japan, in cooperation with the United States, must support the development of ASEAN as a whole.
中国の揺さぶりは、ＡＳＥＡＮの結束に悪影響を及ぼす。ＡＳＥＡＮ各国は経済共同体を年末に発足させると宣言した。域内人口６億人超の単一市場構築を目指す。日本は米国と協調し、ＡＳＥＡＮの一体的発展を支えるべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23, 2015)
Nations must pressure China to conform to intl law in S. China Sea
東アジア会議 南シナ海で対中圧力を強めよ
China’s words and deeds to justify its own behavior while threatening freedom of navigation, which is based on international law, can never be tolerated. It is important to repeatedly voice to the international community over the menace and self-righteousness of the country.
国際法に基づく「航行の自由」を揺るがしながら、自らの行為を正当化する中国の言動は容認できない。その脅威と独善性を国際社会に繰り返し訴えることが重要である。
The leaders of 18 countries, including Japan, the United States, China and Russia plus members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, gathered in Malaysia on Sunday at a meeting of the East Asia Summit. China on the one hand and such countries as Japan and U.S. on the other exchanged at the meeting over China’s building artificial islands and promoting the establishment of military strongholds in the South China Sea.
日米中露などと東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）の計１８か国による東アジア首脳会議が、マレーシアで開かれた。中国が南シナ海で人工島造成と軍事拠点化を進めている問題を巡って、日米などとの間で応酬が繰り広げられた。
At the meeting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed the need to thoroughly preserve the rule of law on the seas. With China in mind, Abe said, “A large-scale and rapid reclamation project aimed at creating a base for military purposes is under way” in the South China Sea, and The prime minister expressed “serious concern.”
安倍首相は、海洋での「法の支配」を徹底するよう訴えた。中国を念頭に、「大規模かつ急速な埋め立てや拠点構築、軍事目的での利用が継続している」と指摘し、「深刻な懸念」を表明した。
U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking in light of U.S. plans to continue patrol operations by its warships within 12 nautical miles of the artificial islands, emphasized the importance of the “freedom of navigation and overflight.” Philippine President Benigno Aquino and others agreed with Obama.
オバマ米大統領は、人工島の１２カイリ内を米艦艇が巡視する作戦の継続を前提に、「航行と飛行の自由」の重要性を力説した。フィリピンのアキノ大統領らも同調した。
Japanese-U.S. joint endeavors in cooperation with other countries concerned to beef up pressure on China are indispensable for maintaining regional stability.
日米が共同で関係国と連携して中国への圧力を強めることは、地域の安定維持に欠かせない。
it must not be overlooked that China has been criticizing Japan and the United States for their involvement in the South China Sea issue, labeling the two as “countries from outside the region.”
看過できないのは、中国が日米を南シナ海の「域外国」とし、その関与を批判していることだ。
China’s deception politics
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for “countries outside the region” to “refrain from taking actions that may cause tensions in the region.” His statement is apparently aimed at stopping the U.S. military’s patrol activities.
李克強首相は「域外国」に対し、「地域情勢を緊張させる行動をとらない」ことを求めた。米軍の巡視活動を牽制けんせいする狙いだろう。
The task of ensuring safety in the key maritime route(sea-lane) in the South China Sea is doubtless in the interest not only of the countries bordering the South China Sea but also the international community, including Japan and the United States. China’s assertion is wide of the mark.
南シナ海の海上交通路（シーレーン）の安全確保は、南シナ海の沿岸国だけでなく、日米を含む国際社会共通の利益にほかならない。中国の主張は筋違いだ。
Although China has agreed to consult with ASEAN to formulate a legally binding code of conduct for the contested area, there are no prospects for a timeframe for the code’s completion. It cannot be denied that China is using the dialogue to buy time, with the intention of making its control over the South China Sea a fait accompli.
中国は、法的拘束力のある行動規範の策定に向けたＡＳＥＡＮとの協議に応じているが、策定時期の見通しは立っていない。対話で時間を稼ぎ、南シナ海支配を既成事実化する意図は明白だ。
In last week’s summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the issue of the South China Sea was not discussed. We can see China presumably maneuvered in advance to tamp down the issue.
先に開かれたアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議では、南シナ海問題が議論されなかった。中国が事前に根回ししたことがうかがえる。
Early this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam, with which China has had confrontations over the territorial problem, while sending Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the Philippines, the APEC chair.
習近平国家主席は今月上旬、領有権問題で対立するベトナムを訪問し、ＡＰＥＣ議長国のフィリピンには、王毅外相を派遣した。
China is using an old trick to try to split ASEAN members by using its economic clout. As long as Beijing continues to use deception as an expediency and fails to stop unilateral actions based on force, it will only increase regional distrust of China.
経済カードで懐柔し、ＡＳＥＡＮを分断するのは、中国の常套じょうとう手段だ。だが、その場限りのごまかしを続け、力による一方的な行動を改めなければ、地域の不信感を高めるだけではないか。
China’s tactic of distabilizing could hurt the unity of the member countries of ASEAN, which have declared they will launch an ASEAN Economic Community toward year-end. They are seeking to create a single market with a combined regional population of more than 600 million. Japan, in cooperation with the United States, must support the development of ASEAN as a whole.
中国の揺さぶりは、ＡＳＥＡＮの結束に悪影響を及ぼす。ＡＳＥＡＮ各国は経済共同体を年末に発足させると宣言した。域内人口６億人超の単一市場構築を目指す。日本は米国と協調し、ＡＳＥＡＮの一体的発展を支えるべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23, 2015)
--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 21
EDITORIAL: Indictment of historian a crisis of freedom in S. Korea
（社説）歴史観の訴追 韓国の自由の危機だ
Prosecutors in South Korea have indicted a university professor on defamation charges, claiming she falsely described former “comfort women” who were forced to provide sex to wartime Japanese soldiers.
Park Yu-ha, who is attached to Sejong University, was charged without arrest on Nov. 18 in connection to her book, “Comfort Women of the Empire,” which prosecutors assert defamed these women.
韓国の検察が、同国で出版された「帝国の慰安婦」の著者、朴裕河（パクユハ）・世宗大教授を在宅起訴した。旧日本軍将兵らの性の相手をさせられた女性たちに対する名誉毀損（きそん）の罪に問うている。
Prosecutors acted on complaints made by former comfort women.
起訴内容は、元慰安婦らの告訴をそのまま認めた。
“Korean comfort women and the Japanese military were basically in a comradely relationship,” Park wrote in her book.
著書には「朝鮮人慰安婦と日本軍は基本的に同志的関係にあった」といった表現などがあるが、
Prosecutors claim this, and some other descriptions in her book, are factually wrong.
検察はこれらを「虚偽の事実」にあたると断じている。
While acknowledging that speech, press and academic freedoms are basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution, prosecutors contend that Park violated the personal rights of former comfort women and overstepped the boundaries of academic freedom.
また、言論や出版、学問の自由は憲法が保障する基本的権利だとしながらも、元慰安婦らの「人格権などを侵害し、学問の自由を逸脱した」と起訴理由をあげている。
There are a wide variety of views and opinions concerning the comfort women issue among former comfort women and their supporters, but it is not the mandate of public prosecutors to judge whether descriptions of historical facts are correct or not.
慰安婦問題をめぐり、当事者や支援者にさまざまな意見があるのはわかる。だが、史実の正否は検察当局が判断を下すべきものではない。
It is even more dangerous for authority to punish free academic activities concerning interpretations and descriptions of history.
ましてや歴史の解釈や表現をめぐる学問の自由な営みを公権力が罰するのは、きわめて危険なことである。
In her book, Park mainly discussed the structural problems of imperialism that were behind the suppression of women.
朴さんが著書で論じている趣旨は、帝国主義が抱える女性抑圧の構造的な問題である。
She harshly blames the imperial Japan for driving these women into a situation in which they had no choice but to have a comradely relationship with soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army.
さらに、同志的関係にならざるをえないような状況に追い込んだ当時の日本の責任を厳しく追及してもいる。
In South Korea, there have been criminal investigations and court rulings that seem to be influenced more by national sentiment than by legal theories in cases concerning issues related to Japan’s past.
韓国ではこれまでも日本の過去の問題が関係する事案では、法律論よりも国民感情に流されるかのような捜査や判決があった。
The latest move by the country’s prosecutors appears to be one example of this.
今回の判断の背景に、そんな要素は働かなかったか。
After former comfort women sought a temporary injunction against the publication of Park’s book, the Seoul Eastern District Court handed down a ruling in February that banned the publication of the book unless some passages were deleted.
この本をめぐっては元慰安婦らの仮処分申請を受け、裁判所も、一部を削除しなければ出版を認めない決定をしている。
Many facts about the comfort women issue remain unclear, such as the actual number of them.
確かに慰安婦問題については実際の総数など、まだ不明な部分も多い。
However, since former comfort women in South Korea began to come forward to tell their stories in the early 1990s, a lot of historical research on the subject has been conducted, mainly in Japan and South Korea. As a result, the real picture of comfort women has been gradually emerging.
一方で、被害者の韓国人女性たちが９０年代初めに名乗り出始めて以降、日韓を中心に研究が進み、徐々に慰安婦問題の実態がわかってきた。
These studies on comfort women have disclosed that there was actually a great diversity of cases.
同時に明らかになったのは、慰安婦といっても、実に多様なケースがあったということだ。
Park’s book focused on this diversity and her descriptions about some cases do not necessarily fit the common image of comfort women among South Koreans as “innocent girls.”
朴さんの著書はまさにその多様な側面に焦点をあてたが、韓国で広く語られる「純真で無垢（むく）な少女」という被害者像と必ずしも一致するわけではない。
If researchers face the constant threat of criminal prosecution over the publication of their research findings, however, the pursuit of learning is impossible.
だからといって、研究者が成果を発表するたびに刑事事件で起訴されていたのでは学問は成り立たない。
Progress in academic research and the natural selection of academic theories take place through mutual reviews and criticism of various theories, discoveries and interpretations.
学説や発見、解釈は互いに検証し、批判や反論をし合うことで、研究が進展したり、淘汰（とうた）されたりするものだ。
Suppressing dissenting views and opinions is a serious challenge to freedom.
異論の封殺は、自由に対する挑戦である。
The indictment of Park represents a problem that far transcends her personal concerns.
今回の問題は朴さん個人にとどまらない。
South Korean media have not given extensive coverage of the action taken by the prosecutors. We strongly hope to see a wide spectrum of the South Korean public stand up for the protection of freedom.
韓国メディアは起訴を大きく報じていないが、自由を守る声が広がることを願ってやまない。
EDITORIAL: Indictment of historian a crisis of freedom in S. Korea
（社説）歴史観の訴追 韓国の自由の危機だ
Prosecutors in South Korea have indicted a university professor on defamation charges, claiming she falsely described former “comfort women” who were forced to provide sex to wartime Japanese soldiers.
Park Yu-ha, who is attached to Sejong University, was charged without arrest on Nov. 18 in connection to her book, “Comfort Women of the Empire,” which prosecutors assert defamed these women.
韓国の検察が、同国で出版された「帝国の慰安婦」の著者、朴裕河（パクユハ）・世宗大教授を在宅起訴した。旧日本軍将兵らの性の相手をさせられた女性たちに対する名誉毀損（きそん）の罪に問うている。
Prosecutors acted on complaints made by former comfort women.
起訴内容は、元慰安婦らの告訴をそのまま認めた。
“Korean comfort women and the Japanese military were basically in a comradely relationship,” Park wrote in her book.
著書には「朝鮮人慰安婦と日本軍は基本的に同志的関係にあった」といった表現などがあるが、
Prosecutors claim this, and some other descriptions in her book, are factually wrong.
検察はこれらを「虚偽の事実」にあたると断じている。
While acknowledging that speech, press and academic freedoms are basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution, prosecutors contend that Park violated the personal rights of former comfort women and overstepped the boundaries of academic freedom.
また、言論や出版、学問の自由は憲法が保障する基本的権利だとしながらも、元慰安婦らの「人格権などを侵害し、学問の自由を逸脱した」と起訴理由をあげている。
There are a wide variety of views and opinions concerning the comfort women issue among former comfort women and their supporters, but it is not the mandate of public prosecutors to judge whether descriptions of historical facts are correct or not.
慰安婦問題をめぐり、当事者や支援者にさまざまな意見があるのはわかる。だが、史実の正否は検察当局が判断を下すべきものではない。
It is even more dangerous for authority to punish free academic activities concerning interpretations and descriptions of history.
ましてや歴史の解釈や表現をめぐる学問の自由な営みを公権力が罰するのは、きわめて危険なことである。
In her book, Park mainly discussed the structural problems of imperialism that were behind the suppression of women.
朴さんが著書で論じている趣旨は、帝国主義が抱える女性抑圧の構造的な問題である。
She harshly blames the imperial Japan for driving these women into a situation in which they had no choice but to have a comradely relationship with soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army.
さらに、同志的関係にならざるをえないような状況に追い込んだ当時の日本の責任を厳しく追及してもいる。
In South Korea, there have been criminal investigations and court rulings that seem to be influenced more by national sentiment than by legal theories in cases concerning issues related to Japan’s past.
韓国ではこれまでも日本の過去の問題が関係する事案では、法律論よりも国民感情に流されるかのような捜査や判決があった。
The latest move by the country’s prosecutors appears to be one example of this.
今回の判断の背景に、そんな要素は働かなかったか。
After former comfort women sought a temporary injunction against the publication of Park’s book, the Seoul Eastern District Court handed down a ruling in February that banned the publication of the book unless some passages were deleted.
この本をめぐっては元慰安婦らの仮処分申請を受け、裁判所も、一部を削除しなければ出版を認めない決定をしている。
Many facts about the comfort women issue remain unclear, such as the actual number of them.
確かに慰安婦問題については実際の総数など、まだ不明な部分も多い。
However, since former comfort women in South Korea began to come forward to tell their stories in the early 1990s, a lot of historical research on the subject has been conducted, mainly in Japan and South Korea. As a result, the real picture of comfort women has been gradually emerging.
一方で、被害者の韓国人女性たちが９０年代初めに名乗り出始めて以降、日韓を中心に研究が進み、徐々に慰安婦問題の実態がわかってきた。
These studies on comfort women have disclosed that there was actually a great diversity of cases.
同時に明らかになったのは、慰安婦といっても、実に多様なケースがあったということだ。
Park’s book focused on this diversity and her descriptions about some cases do not necessarily fit the common image of comfort women among South Koreans as “innocent girls.”
朴さんの著書はまさにその多様な側面に焦点をあてたが、韓国で広く語られる「純真で無垢（むく）な少女」という被害者像と必ずしも一致するわけではない。
If researchers face the constant threat of criminal prosecution over the publication of their research findings, however, the pursuit of learning is impossible.
だからといって、研究者が成果を発表するたびに刑事事件で起訴されていたのでは学問は成り立たない。
Progress in academic research and the natural selection of academic theories take place through mutual reviews and criticism of various theories, discoveries and interpretations.
学説や発見、解釈は互いに検証し、批判や反論をし合うことで、研究が進展したり、淘汰（とうた）されたりするものだ。
Suppressing dissenting views and opinions is a serious challenge to freedom.
異論の封殺は、自由に対する挑戦である。
The indictment of Park represents a problem that far transcends her personal concerns.
今回の問題は朴さん個人にとどまらない。
South Korean media have not given extensive coverage of the action taken by the prosecutors. We strongly hope to see a wide spectrum of the South Korean public stand up for the protection of freedom.
韓国メディアは起訴を大きく報じていないが、自由を守る声が広がることを願ってやまない。
スポンサードリンク
プロフィール
カイちゃん父親に花束を捧げる
タイのスラチャイです
妻はタイ人、娘ばかり３人も！ 
■近況
２００９年の９月１５日に脳梗塞を発症、右手が少し不自由になりました。
MRAで脳梗塞の部位を特定でき、素早い処置をとれたので大事に至りませんでした。
快復にむけてリハビリ中です。
(2011/01/01更新)
■自己紹介・リンク
[ はじめに ]
タイのスラチャイです。
英語学習に王道はありません。
毎日毎日の地道な努力の積み重ねが必要です。
スラチャイはＮＨＫのラジオ英語会話で現在の英語力を身につけました。
一日僅か１５分の学習でも数年間継続すれば相当な学習効果が期待できます。
[ 名前 ]
松井 清 （スラチャイ）
[ 略歴 ]
・福岡県出身
・国立高知大学卒業
・準大手建設会社に就職
・50歳で会社を早期退職
・99/10 タイ全土を旅行
・00/10 タイに移住
・03/07 カイちゃん誕生
・07/06 シーファーちゃん誕生
・現在タイ国コンケン在住
[ 座右の銘 ]
Slow and steady wins the race.
遅くとも着実な者が勝利する
（NHK基礎英語芹沢栄先生）
[ 学習の手引き ]
・音読して耳から英語を吸収
・Think in English.
・ネイティブ発音付辞書活用
・英英辞典を活用（英和も）
・翻訳和文で専門用語確認
[ English Newspapers ]
Yomiuri
Mainichi
Asahi
Japan Times
Washington Post
Newyork Times
Bangkok Post
The Nations
Phuket Gazette
[ 英字新聞の英和対訳学習 ]
英字新聞（読売）
英字新聞（毎日）
英字新聞（朝日）
英字新聞（朝日２）
[ スラチャイ編集の辞書 ]
タイ日辞書（改訂版）
日タイ辞書（改訂版）
ラオ日辞書
日ラオ辞書
[ 英字新聞リンク ]
ocn cafe
fc2
goo
yahoo
ameba
online casino
[ online casino ]
オンラインカジノとは
[ 32red casino mobile ]
for iPhone, Android
Roulette Game Blackjack Game
Slots Game
[ my favorite way ]
Earning some money on the commuting train is fantastic.
roulette game 通勤電車の中で稼ぐ（ルーレット）＾＾
ルーレットで遊ぶ
[ 32red casino iPhone & Android ]
Mermaids Millions Royal Derby
Tomb Raider
Blackjack Game
Major Millions Tomb Raider iTunes App
Blackjack iTunes App
Roulette Game
Android & iPhone Direct Registration
[ sellection for mobile ]
32Red Web App (iPhone & Android) Casino - Homepage
[ 32red download for PC ]
[ online casino for PC ]
Roulette Blackjack
Online Slots
[ zipang casino ]
in english
新着記事
新着レス
- my names ⇒ 石炭火力発電 安定供給と環境対策の両立を
- 呵呵呵~呵呵呵呵呵呵呵呵 ⇒ 抗日戦勝７０年 習氏が内外に誇示する軍事力
- bellamn ⇒ 女性活躍法 長時間労働の是正が不可欠だ
- assignment writing ⇒ 憲法記念日 改正論議の高まり生かしたい
- college essay writing ⇒ 日本版ＮＳＣ 「外交安保」強化へ縦割り排せ
- do my essay ⇒ 憲法記念日 改正論議の高まり生かしたい
- essay writer ⇒ パタヤにて（旅行記）
- buy essay online ⇒ Photo album with srachai's family
- essay writing ⇒ シェールガス 米国産輸入で高値買い是正を
- writing an essay ⇒ 新聞週間 真実を伝える役割これからも
月別アーカイブ
マイリンク
検索フォーム
seesaa100 英字新聞s HPs １
スラチャイの家族紹介
私の家族
スラチャイの手作りリンク集
スラチャイタイ在住９年目
中国語会話基礎（北京語）
タイ日辞典（単語帳）
タイ語の子音
タイ語の母音
スラチャイ編曲のmidiのギター曲
スラチャイ編曲のJ.S.Bachです
スラチャイの多国言語学習
初歩のタイ語
初歩の中国語
初歩のラオス語
初歩のビルマ語
初歩のシンハリ語
初歩のタガログ語
タイ語の基礎
タイ文字
タイ日辞書
タイ語の副詞
タイ語の前置詞
タイ語の助動詞
タイ語の接続詞
基礎タイ語一覧（タイ文字、ローマ字）
seesaaサイト内リンク一覧：
01 あいさつ
02 別れのあいさつ
03 声をかけるとき
04 感謝の言葉と答え方
05 謝罪の言葉と答え方
06 聞き直すとき
07 相手の言うことがわからないとき
08 うまく言えないとき
09 一般的なあいづち
10 よくわからないときの返事
11 強めのあいづち
12 自分について述べるとき
13 相手のことを尋ねるとき
14 頼みごとをするとき
15 申し出・依頼を断るとき
16 許可を求めるとき
17 説明してもらうとき
18 確認を求めるとき
19 状況を知りたいとき
20 値段の尋ね方と断り方
21 急いでもらいたいとき
22 待ってもらいたいとき
23 日時・場所・天候を尋ねるとき
24 その他
基礎タイ語一覧(タイ文字、音声付き）
サイト外HPリンク一覧：
01 あいさつ
02 別れのあいさつ
03 声をかけるとき
04 感謝の言葉と答え方
05 謝罪の言葉と答え方
06 聞き直すとき
07 相手の言うことがわからないとき
08 うまく言えないとき
09 一般的なあいづち
10 よくわからないときの返事
11 強めのあいづち
12 自分について述べるとき
13 相手のことを尋ねるとき
14 頼みごとをするとき
15 申し出・依頼を断るとき
16 許可を求めるとき
17 説明してもらうとき
18 確認を求めるとき
19 状況を知りたいとき
20 値段の尋ね方と断り方
21 急いでもらいたいとき
22 待ってもらいたいとき
23 日時・場所・天候を尋ねるとき
24 その他
seesaa100 英字新聞s HPs ２
タイの文化一覧:
01 雨の日にも傘をささないタイ人
02 勉強熱心なタイ人女性たち
03 タイ人は敬謙な仏教徒
04 タイの市場
05 タイの食堂
06 タイ人は外食が大好き
07 果物王国タイランド
08 タイ人の誕生日
09 タイの電話代は高い
10 微笑みの国タイランド
1４の戒律（テラワーダ仏教戒律）
seesaaサイト内リンク一覧：
第０１番目の戒律
第０２番目の戒律
第０３番目の戒律
第０４番目の戒律
第０５番目の戒律
第０６番目の戒律
第０７番目の戒律
第０８番目の戒律
第０９番目の戒律
第１０番目の戒律
第１１番目の戒律
第１２番目の戒律
第１３番目の戒律
第１４番目の戒律
1４の戒律（テラワーダ仏教戒律）
サイト外HPリンク一覧：
１４の戒律解説
第０１番目の戒律
第０２番目の戒律
第０３番目の戒律
第０４番目の戒律
第０５番目の戒律
第０６番目の戒律
第０７番目の戒律
第０８番目の戒律
第０９番目の戒律
第１０番目の戒律
第１１番目の戒律
第１２番目の戒律
第１３番目の戒律
第１４番目の戒律
[ 英字新聞リンク ]
yahoo geolog
yaplog
worldpress
teacup
jugem
hatena
@word
blogger
biglobe
excite
a8
so-net
ameblo
wox
rakuten
ninja
seesaa
goo
fc2
yahoo
livedoor
dreamlog
[ HPリンク ]
HP2 srachai2000_2
Japanese for Thai students
タイ語学習サイト
ラオ日・日老辞書
cocolog 家族のアルバム
fc2 家族のアルバム
