日米首脳会談 来年こそ同盟深化の成果を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 16, 2010)
2011 must be big year for Japan-U.S. alliance
日米首脳会談　来年こそ同盟深化の成果を（11月14日付・読売社説）

It is unfortunate that Japan and the United States missed a golden opportunity to issue a joint declaration on the bilateral alliance to mark this year's 50th anniversary of the signing of the revised Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.
　日米安保条約改定５０周年という格好の機会を逃したのは残念だ。

Prime Minister Naoto Kan and U.S. President Barack Obama held talks Saturday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting in Yokohama. They agreed to issue a joint declaration on the alliance next spring when Kan visits Washington.
　菅首相とオバマ米大統領が横浜で会談し、来年春にも首相が訪米して、日米同盟に関する共同文書を発表することで一致した。

Now that the statement has been postponed until next year, its content should be enhanced all the more.
共同文書の発表を来年に持ち越す以上、内容を充実させることが求められる。

When then Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Obama agreed to deepen the alliance in November last year, it was assumed that a joint declaration would be issued while Obama was attending the APEC summit meeting in Yokohama.
　昨年１１月、当時の鳩山首相と大統領が同盟深化の作業を開始することで合意した際は、今回の大統領来日時における共同文書の公表を念頭に置いていた。

But preparatory work on the document was held up due to the Japanese government's muddled handling of the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, which slowed the momentum for issuing such a document. The blame for this lies squarely with the immature and clumsy diplomacy of the Democratic Party of Japan-led government--in particular under the Hatoyama administration.
　だが、米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題の迷走に伴い、作業は遅れ、共同文書策定の機運が失われてしまった。その原因はひとえに、鳩山前首相を中心とする民主党政権の未熟かつ拙劣な外交にある。

===

No progress on Futenma

The two countries eventually reached an agreement on the Futenma relocation issue in May, but there has been no progress since then because the Kan administration has not taken any effective measures.
　普天間問題は、５月に日米合意がまとまった後も、菅政権の無策により、何の進展もない。

The government must step up its efforts to win over the affected local governments and people in Okinawa Prefecture on the accord to move the Futenma base functions to the Henoko district of Nago. The government's line of action will be based on the result of the Nov. 28 Okinawa gubernatorial election.
　政府は、２８日の沖縄県知事選の結果を踏まえ、名護市辺野古に移設するとした日米合意が前進するよう、地元への説得を本格化させなければなるまい。

During his talks with Obama, Kan explained the government is considering sending Self-Defense Forces medical officers to Afghanistan to train their counterparts in the Afghan government forces.
　菅首相は首脳会談で、自衛隊の医官をアフガニスタンに派遣し、国軍の医官を指導することを前向きに検討する考えを表明した。

To bolster the Japan-U.S. alliance and enrich the content of the joint security declaration to be issued next year, we think Japan must not only resolve issues pending with Washington, but also play a wider international role in security matters.
　同盟を深化し、来年の共同文書を充実させるには、日米間の懸案を着実に解決するだけでなく、日本が安保面で国際的役割を従来以上に果たすことが欠かせない。

When their conversation turned to China, Obama was quoted as saying that China needs to speak and act appropriately in accordance with international rules. Kan shared this view.
　大統領は会談で、中国について「国際的ルールの中で適切な役割、言動を行うことが重要だ」と強調し、菅首相も同意した。

Kan thanked Obama for U.S. support of Japan's position on territorial issues with China and Russia. Tokyo's ties with Beijing have been strained by the collisions of a Chinese trawler with two Japan Coast Guard boats near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, and ties with Moscow chilled following Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's recent visit to Kunashiri, one of the four northern islands off Hokkaido.
　菅首相はまた、尖閣諸島沖の中国漁船衝突事件とメドベージェフ露大統領の北方領土訪問について、米側が日本の立場を支持したことに謝意を示した。

===

Multilateral approach

Dealing with these issues has exposed the fragile nature of the Kan administration's makeshift diplomacy. It is urgent to overhaul Japan's diplomacy--the cornerstone of which remains the Japan-U.S. alliance. However, this nation cannot simply continue to rely solely on the United States for its diplomacy.
　漁船衝突事件と露大統領の国後島訪問では、場当たり的な菅外交のもろさが露呈した。日米同盟を基軸とする日本外交全体の立て直しが急務だが、一方的に米国に頼るだけでは済まされない。

China is a neighboring nation that has become a major power. Dealing with China will be a perpetual challenge for Japan's diplomacy.
　大国化した隣国・中国とどう向き合っていくかは、日本外交の永遠の課題と言っていい。

How can China be effectively guided into complying with international rules in the political, economic and military fields so that it acts responsibly commensurate with its power over the medium-to-long term? We think it is essential that Japan hold repeated strategic dialogues with the United States on this matter.
　中国が中長期的に、政治、経済、軍事の各分野で国際的な規範を順守し、国力に見合う責任ある行動を取るよう誘導する――。そのためには、いかなる方策を取るのが効果的なのか、米国と戦略的な対話を重ねることが大切だ。

Japan also must propose concrete measures to strengthen ties with nations other than the United States. Steadily and actively building these ties could lead to a reshaping of Japan's diplomacy.
　日本が具体的なアイデアを提案し、米国以外の関係国との連携にも積極的に動く。そうした主体的な努力の積み重ねこそが、日本外交の立て直しにつながろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 14, 2010)
（2010年11月14日01時21分 読売新聞）

Plaid_SuuKyi Now

上から順に概要は次のとおりです。

●ダライラマ１４世のメッセージに対する感謝の投稿。

●@plaidavengerは日本で言えば田原総一郎さんみたいな人だと思いますが多くの世界各国首脳たちも彼のファンとなっています。英語は難しくてThe Timesクラスです。

●スーチーさんへの応援に対する感謝の投稿。

●自宅軟禁解放直後のＢＢＣインタビュー。

●タンシュエ議長と直接話しをさせて欲しい。（タンシュエ議長はジャンタの総帥）

●和解にむけて話し合いを持ちたい。どのような組織や人々とも話し合い問題解決をして行きたい。

●ロックグループＵ２のメインボーカリスト、ボノさんへ感謝の投稿。

横浜ＡＰＥＣ―自由貿易圏への一歩に

2010/11/13
--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 12
EDITORIAL: Kan's role at APEC forum
横浜ＡＰＥＣ―自由貿易圏への一歩に

As leaders of Pacific Rim countries gather in Yokohama for this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, one question is looming over the conference. Will they share as a realistic goal the vision of a huge free trade zone encompassing nations surrounding the Pacific?
The leaders of 21 countries and regions, including the United States, China and Russia, will discuss ways to ensure sustained economic growth in the region during the summit, which starts Saturday.
　太平洋を囲む国々による自由貿易圏づくりの「夢」は、現実の「目標」として共有されるか。米国や中国、ロシアなど２１の国や地域の首脳があすから横浜で、持続的な経済発展の道をめぐって話し合う。

The APEC summit was created to link economies that account for a combined 40 percent of the world's population and 50 percent of the global economic output.
　このアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議は、人口で世界の４割、経済規模で５割を占める国々をつなぐために設けられた。

U.S. President Barack Obama is seeking to secure future growth of the U.S. economy under a trade strategy centering on a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).
　オバマ米大統領は、アジア太平洋自由貿易圏（ＦＴＡＡＰ）構想の実現を通商戦略の核にすえて今後の成長を図ろうとしている。

This new regional framework for trade liberalization is also important for Japan, which depends on trade for its economic well-being. Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who chairs the APEC summit in Yokohama, should carry out his responsibility to push this idea.
貿易立国の日本にとっても重要な枠組みだ。横浜ＡＰＥＣで議長を務める菅直人首相には、構想を後押しする責任をしっかりと果たしてもらいたい。

APEC was launched in 1989 under the initiative of Japan and Australia to build a new framework to promote free trade. The two countries were worried about a growing trend toward creating a regional trade bloc in Europe and North America.
　１９８９年発足のＡＰＥＣは、欧州や北米のブロック経済化を懸念した日本と豪州が、自由貿易を推進する新たな枠組みを求めたのがきっかけだった。

APEC provided a strong impetus to the Uruguay round of multilateral trade talks, which had stalled, leading to a successful conclusion to the negotiations.
難航していた多角的貿易交渉も突き動かし、成功に導いた。

After that, however, APEC lost steam and made no notable achievement for years. Part of the blame falls on Japan. Fearing a political confrontation at home over the issue of farm trade liberalization, Tokyo has not gone along with the U.S. call for freer trade.
　しかしその後のＡＰＥＣは鳴かず飛ばずだった。原因は日本にもある。農業問題での国内対立を恐れ、米国の自由化論についていけなかった。

One important goal set by APEC is achieving "free and open trade and investment" by 2010 among its developed economies.
　ＡＰＥＣは２０１０年までに先進国が「自由で開かれた貿易と投資を達成する」との目標を掲げてきた。

But the reality is far from the ideal, and there is no prospect for a new global agreement after nine years of the Doha round of multilateral trade talks. The dismal outlook has prompted many countries to start separate negotiations with their trade partners, ushering in a new era of bilateral free trade agreements.
だが現実は理想に遠く、多角的貿易交渉ドーハ・ラウンドも９年の交渉を経てなお合意のめどが立っていない。

These moves have made some contribution to liberalizing trade. But they have also created some problems. Different trade rules set by many bilateral pacts make things more complicated for companies with global operations. This is a situation sometimes referred to as a "spaghetti bowl phenomenon."
　多国間交渉に期待をもてない国々は個別交渉に走り、世界はすっかり二国間のＦＴＡ（自由貿易協定）時代だ。それで曲がりなりにも自由化が進展したが、弊害もある。協定ごとにルールが異なり、世界で活動する企業にとって対応が複雑になることだ。からまっためんのような「スパゲティ・ボール現象」とも言われる。

Against this backdrop, the APEC summit in Yokohama offers a good opportunity for Pacific Rim leaders to acknowledge the importance of a multilateral trade pact.
　横浜ＡＰＥＣは、こうした問題を背景に各国首脳らが多国間協定の大切さを改めて認め合う好機である。

There are encouraging signs that the upcoming discussion will be lively. The United States has shown enthusiasm to hold talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a framework that currently involves nine countries and would eliminate tariffs and trade barriers, stimulating fresh debate. Japan has hastily decided to consider its participation in the talks. China has also shown interest.
幸い、議論は活発化しそうだ。関税撤廃をめざす９カ国の環太平洋パートナーシップ協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉に米国が積極姿勢を示したことが刺激剤となっている。日本があわてて交渉参加を検討し、中国も関心を示した。

If Tokyo joins, the TPP would form a vast free trade zone including both the United States and Japan.
　ＴＰＰに日本が参加すれば、日米を含む巨大自由貿易圏となる。

Then, the FTAAP would no longer be a simple vision. It would evolve into the next goal. That would also raise hope for a revival of the moribund Doha round.
そのときはＦＴＡＡＰはもはや「夢」ではない。次なる「目標」に進化するだろう。死に体のドーハ・ラウンドが生き返る希望も見えてくる。

With the world economy in a bind, it is all the more important now to expand free trade instead of limiting the scope of trade with protectionist measures.
　世界経済が苦境に陥った今こそ、保護主義で貿易を小さく囲い込むのでなく、自由貿易を広げていくことが求められる。

This is a very important lesson from the Great Depression 80 years ago and the subsequent world war.
８０年前の世界恐慌とその後の世界大戦の歴史の教訓である。

The outcome of APEC's efforts to establish a regional free trade zone goes a long way toward determining whether the lesson will be put into good use. As chairman of the Yokohama gathering, Kan has a big role to play.
　ＡＰＥＣの自由貿易圏づくりは、その教訓を生かせるかどうかのカギを握る。菅議長の役割は重大だ。

獄中の２２００名を忘れるな！

上から２番目の投稿@Plaid_Srachaiがスラチャイです。
きさくな人ですね。一般人には返信しないのが通例です。
とてもうれしかったです。
上から３番目の投稿では、獄中の２２００名におよぶ逮捕拘留者のことを忘れるな！との強いメッセージです。

World must watch postelection Myanmar

昨日土曜日の夜ビルマ時間の５時頃ジャンタの代表がスーチーさんの自宅を訪れ、自宅軟禁の解除を伝えました。
同時にスーチーさんの家の前のバリケードも撤去されて、待ち焦がれていた人々に感動の瞬間が訪れました。
群集がジャンタを刺激するのを恐れてスーチーさんは解放直後に群集に向かって次の言葉を語っています。
とても重い言葉です。インド無抵抗運動のカンジーさんを思い出しました。
"There is a time to be quiet and a time to talk. People must work in unison. Only then can we achieve our goal," she told the crowd.
あまり騒ぎ立てるのではなくて静かに対話しましょう。団結が必要です。そうすることによってのみ目標を達成できるのです。スーチーさんは集まった人々におだやかに話しかけた。(ｔｒａｎｓ. ｂｙ ｓｒａｃｈａｉ)
（スラチャイ記）





The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 14, 2010)
World must watch postelection Myanmar
ミャンマー選挙　民政移行へ国際監視が必要だ（11月13日付・読売社説）

Myanmar's recent general election, its first in 20 years, was far from free and fair.
　自由で公正とは言い難い選挙だった。

The party backed by the military junta declared victory, winning more than 80 percent of contested seats.
　ミャンマーで２０年ぶりに行われた総選挙で、軍事政権の翼賛政党が８割余りの議席を獲得したとして勝利宣言した。

The military junta prohibited many pro-democracy activists, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who remained under house arrest during the election, from running or campaigning. In some regions inhabited by ethnic minorities, who account for 30 percent of the population, voting was not even held, with security problems cited as the reason.
　軍政は、自宅軟禁中のアウン・サン・スー・チーさんを含め、多くの民主活動家の出馬と選挙活動を禁止した。人口の３割を占める少数民族が住む一部の地域では、治安上の問題を理由にして投票が実施されなかった。

The junta allowed neither monitoring of voting and ballot counting by international observers nor firsthand coverage by foreign media. It is likely the junta feared that fraudulent practices might be uncovered.
　投開票を見守る国際監視団の受け入れや、外国メディアの直接取材も、軍政は拒否した。投開票における不正の発覚を恐れてのことではないか。

Given the situation, we cannot help but seriously doubt the legitimacy of the election.
　これでは、選挙の正当性を疑わざるを得ない。

By convening the parliament within 90 days and electing a president and other top national leaders, the junta aims to promote the appearance that it is "shifting to civilian rule" so that it can make a comeback in international society. The junta probably wants to break the deadlock it faces in both domestic politics and foreign relations.
　軍政は、今後９０日以内に国会を招集し、大統領など国家指導者を新たに選出することで、「民政移管」実現をアピールして国際社会への復帰を狙っている。内政も外交も行き詰まっている現状を打開したいのだろう。

Wolves in civilian clothing

But many of the ruling party members who have been declared election winners are high-ranking government officials and senior military officers under junta control. All they have done is take off their uniforms. The true nature of military rule seems unlikely to change.
　しかし、当選した与党議員の多くは、軍政下での政府高官や軍幹部だ。制服を脱ぎ捨てただけで、軍政支配の実態は変わらない。

It is imperative for international society to step up its monitoring of how the junta-controlled nation goes about transforming itself to "civilian rule."
　どのような「民政」に移行していくのか、国際社会は監視を強めることが肝要だ。

Boasting abundant funds and strong organizational power, the junta fielded its own candidates in almost every constituency. One-fourth of all seats were automatically reserved for military officers. The election system thus was overwhelmingly advantageous to the junta.
　豊富な資金と組織力を誇る軍政は、ほぼ全選挙区に候補者を立てた。議席の４分の１は自動的に軍人に与えられており、圧倒的に軍政が有利な仕組みだった。

Pro-democracy parties, including the National Democratic Force, took part in the election despite various restrictions, in the hope that they could win votes in urban areas. But they did not perform as well as expected.
　「国民民主勢力」など民主派政党は、都市での集票を期待し、様々な制約下で選挙に参加したが、予想以上にふるわなかった。

The pro-democracy forces were split as iconic figure Suu Kyi called for a boycott of the election. This apparently led them to fail to obtain sufficient voter support.
　国民的人気のスー・チーさんが選挙ボイコットを呼びかけ、民主派が分裂したため、十分な支持が集まらなかった側面もある。

With the completion of the election, the military junta was set to soon release Suu Kyi. But if she is not given freedom in her activities, her release will merely be an empty gesture.
　選挙終了を受け、軍政は今日にもスー・チーさんを解放する。だが、自由な活動を認めないのなら、単なるポーズに過ぎない。

The way forward

Releasing political prisoners, ending the suppression of ethnic minorities and achieving national reconciliation are the ways for Myanmar to improve its people's lives. The international community needs to unite in urging Myanmar to move in that direction.
　政治犯を釈放し、少数民族への弾圧を中止して、国民融和を実現することが、ミャンマーにとって民生向上につながる道だろう。国際社会は一致して、そう促す必要がある。

However, China and India are strengthening their relations with Myanmar's junta in the quest for resources there, such as natural gas.
　一方で、中国とインドは、天然ガスなどの資源を求めて、軍政との関係を強化している。

While the United States and Europe maintain their sanctions against Myanmar, Japan has tried to urge Myanmar to achieve democracy through its own engagement policy, which is limited to medical and other humanitarian assistance and human exchange programs. But this has hardly proved effective.
　制裁を継続する欧米に対し、日本は、医療など人道支援や人的交流に限った独自の関与政策の実施を通じて民主化を促してきたが、効果があったとは言えない。

The government must reexamine its policy and make it truly effective.
　政策を再検討し、実効あるものにしていかなければならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 13, 2010)
（2010年11月13日00時55分 読売新聞）

スーチーさん解放される

ビルマ時間夕方の５時アウンサンスーチーさん解放です。
うれしくて涙が出ました。
スーチーさん解放直後の言葉です。
"There is a time to be quiet and a time to talk. People must work in unison. Only then can we achieve our goal," she told the crowd.
あまり騒ぎ立てるのではなくて静かに対話しましょう。団結が必要です。そうすることによってのみ目標を達成できるのです。スーチーさんは集まった人々におだやかに話しかけた。(ｔｒａｎｓ. ｂｙ ｓｒａｃｈａｉ)
（スラチャイ記）

 

cite from BBC News,

13 November 2010 Last updated at 11:34 GMT

Burma releases Aung San Suu Kyi

The military authorities in Burma have released the pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

She has appeared in front of a crowd of her supporters who rushed to her house in Rangoon when nearby barricades were removed by the security forces.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner has been detained for 15 of the past 21 years.

Earlier, Ms Suu Kyi's lawyer warned that she was highly unlikely to accept a conditional release if it excluded her from political activity.

The government has restricted her travel and freedom to associate during previous brief spells of liberty, and demanded she quit politics.

She was originally due to be released from house arrest last year, but a case involving an American who swam across Inya Lake to her home, claiming he was on a mission to save her, prompted the latest detention.

Last Sunday, the political party supported by the military government won the country's first election in 20 years. The ballot was widely condemned.

'Work together'
 
Since Saturday morning, crowds of people had been waiting anxiously for news of Ms Suu Kyi's fate near her home and the headquarters of her now-banned National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Many wore T-shirts sporting the slogans "We stand with Aung San Suu Kyi".

By late afternoon, a stand-off had developed between armed riot police and several hundred people who had gathered on the other side of the security barricade blocking the road leading to her lakeside home. Some of them later sat down in the road in an act of defiance.

As tensions rose, reports came in at about 1700 (1030 GMT) that the security forces had started removing the barricade.

Soon after, official cars were seen entering the compound, and unnamed officials then said that the release order had been read to Ms Suu Kyi.

Hundreds of people then surged forward and rushed towards her home to greet her.

Ms Suu Kyi then appeared on a platform at the gate of her compound, wearing a traditional lilac dress. The crowd chanted, cheered and sang the national anthem.

"There is a time to be quiet and a time to talk. People must work in unison. Only then can we achieve our goal," she told the crowd.

She then returned inside her home along with senior NLD officials.

Her lawyer, Nyan Win, earlier said that if she was freed without conditions, she would meet with the NLD's central committee, members of the media and the public once she was freed.

He noted that after earlier detentions, she always visited the Shwedagon pagoda, one of the most sacred sites in Burma.

Ms Suu Kyi will address her supporters at the NLD's headquarters at noon Saturday, party officials said.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said her release had been "long overdue", describing her detention had been a "travesty".

"Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration for all of us who believe in freedom of speech, democracy and human rights."

Elections criticised
 
The decision by Burma's ruling generals to release Ms Suu Kyi follows the elections on Sunday.

Earlier this week, state media announced that partial results showed that the biggest military-backed party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), had secured a majority in both houses of parliament.

The USDP had won 190 of the 219 seats so far declared in the 330-seat lower House of Representatives, and 95 of 107 seats in the 168-seat upper House of Nationalities, the reports said.

Those elected included the leader of the USDP, Prime Minister Thein Sein, who retired from the military as a general in April to stand.

The junta has said the election marks the transition from military rule to a civilian democracy, but the opposition, many Western governments and human rights groups have said the election was neither free nor fair.

The NLD - which won the last election in 1990 but was never allowed to take power - was ordered to dissolve after refusing to take part.

A quarter of seats in the two new chambers of parliament will be reserved for the military. Any constitutional change will require a majority of more than 75% - meaning that the military will retain a casting vote.

スーチーさん解放

アウンサンスーチーさんのｔｗｉｔｔｅｒ投稿は１０月２７日以降途絶えていましたが、昨日投稿がありました。
ビルマ軍事政権のタンシュエ議長はスーチーさんの自宅軟禁解除命令に署名しました。
今日はうれしい土曜日になりますね。
ビルマのアウンサンスーチーさんは今日２０年あまりの自宅軟禁から解放されます。
バンコクで待機している息子さんも恐らく月曜日にはビルマ入国を許されると思います。
まるで自分のことのようにうれしいです。
（スラチャイ記）

Plaid_SuuKyi Burma generals have signed my release order! My detention is suppose to end on Saturday. http://bbc.in/9Iu3YF
about 10 hours ago via web
ビルマ軍事政権のタンシュエ議長はスーチーさんの自宅軟禁解除命令に署名。土曜日には晴れて自由の身になれます。

返信しておきました。
Plaid_Srachai I’m very happy to know that Burma generals have signed the order to release @Plaid_SuuKyi. I hope you will be reunited with your son in BKK
less than 5 seconds ago via web
うれしいです。息子さんと再会できますようにお祈りいたします。

海保ビデオ―独断公開が投じた課題

2010/11/12
--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 11
EDITORIAL: Leak of trawler footage
海保ビデオ―独断公開が投じた課題

A Japan Coast Guard officer of the 5th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Kobe told his superior he leaked the video footage of the Chinese trawler off the Senkaku Islands that was posted on YouTube. Investigators are looking into the case as a possible violation of the National Civil Service Law.
　尖閣沖の中国漁船の映像は自分が流出させた、と神戸海上保安部の保安官が上司に申し出た。捜査当局は国家公務員法違反の疑いで調べている。

Views are divided over the video. Some criticize the government for deciding not to disclose it while others show understanding.
　ビデオの取り扱いをめぐっては、非公開を決めた政府を批判する声と、理解を示す声との双方がある。

But if a government employee is allowed to render meaningless a high-level government decision concerning diplomatic relations at his own discretion, the administration would come to a standstill.
だからといって、現時点での外交関係を踏まえた政府の高度な判断を、一職員が独自の考えで無意味なものにしてしまっては、行政は立ちゆかない。

All we know at this moment are fragmentary details about the confession. How and why the leakage occurred and the motive and background of the incident are unclear.
　まだ供述の断片しか伝えられず、詳しい経緯や動機、背後関係などもはっきりしない。

There are also various views about whether the video in question constitutes confidential information that needs to be protected at the cost of imposing criminal punishment. We need to calmly keep an eye on the progress of the investigation.
問題の映像が刑事罰を科してまで守るべき秘密であるかどうかに関しても、様々な意見がある。捜査の行方を冷静に見守る必要がある。

How should we think about secrets kept by the government and the public to whom they essentially belong as sovereign members of the nation? This is a problem that has been debated for some time. However, the situation has drastically changed with the spread of the Internet that virtually anyone can use.
　政府が保有する秘密と、主権者としてその情報の本来の所有者である国民との関係をどう考えるか。かねて議論されてきた問題だが、インターネットが広まり、だれもが利用できる時代を迎え、局面は大きく変わった。

Up to now, the power to send information to society has been more or less limited to a small number of media organizations. The media were able to advocate freedom of expression and the press because they served the public's right to know and contributed to the advancement of democratic society. In return, the media also shouldered their share of responsibility.
　これまでは社会に情報を発信する力は少数のマスメディアにほぼ限定されていた。メディアが表現の自由や報道の自由を主張できるのは、国民の「知る権利」に奉仕して民主主義社会を発展させるためとされ、その裏返しとしてメディアも相応の責務を負った。

The media are expected to look into information to discern whether it is true or false and whether its contents and nature are worthy of reporting. They are required to use socially acceptable methods to gather information and protect their sources. They must also accept criminal and civil responsibility not to mention criticism by the government at the time.
　情報の真偽に迫り、報道に値する内容と性格を備えたものかどうかを見極める。世の中に認められる取材手法をとり、情報源を守る。時の政権からの批判は言うまでもなく、刑事上、民事上の責任も引き受ける――。

However, with the development of the Internet, the media are no longer in a position to exclusively transmit and disseminate information.
　だが、ネットの発達によりマスメディアが発信を独占する状況は崩れた。

The wide spread of information has given rise to more opportunities for the public to engage in discussions and make decisions. While there are positive aspects, the behavior of a single person could undermine the safety of society and the wealth and lives of the people. We are living in a difficult age.
　情報が広く流通し、それに基づいて国民が討論して決める機会が増える。そんな積極的な側面がある一方で、一人の行動によって社会の安全や国民の生命・財産が危機に陥りかねない。難しい時代に私たちは生きている。

Each of us needs to recognize this situation as our own problem. To what extent should the government publicly release the large volume of information it has? Which information should be kept confidential and what responsibility must the sender of information shoulder? A serious debate is needed.
　この状況を国民一人ひとりが自分の問題として認識し、政府が持つ膨大な情報をどこまで公開し、どこを秘匿するか、発信する側はどんな責任を負うのか、絶えざる議論が必要になる。

Should information be kept confidential or not? It is difficult to draw a clear line. There is no other way than to carefully examine the contents of information, weigh the advantages and losses of the public and make a decision at each juncture. From now on, a tense struggle between political and bureaucratic authorities, which tend to keep information to themselves, and the public, which calls for freedom of information, is expected to intensify.
　秘密とすべきものか、明快な一線を引くのは難しい。情報の内容を精査して、国民が得る利益と損失を測り、そのつど判断するしかない。秘匿に傾く政治権力や官僚機構と、公開を求める国民との間に緊張をはらむ攻防がこれまで以上に生じることになるだろう。

Even amid such a fierce battle, it is said that publicizing as much information as possible and developing debate strengthens democracy. We want society to share this basic direction.
　そのせめぎ合いの中でも、情報をできる限り公にして議論に付すことが民主主義を強めていくという、基本的な方向を社会で共有したい。

In response to the situation, the government decided to set up a committee to discuss information management. While we do not deny that such discussions should be held, we need to firmly keep an eye on the government's moves so that freedom of expression would not be threatened.
　事態を受けて政府は、情報管理のありようを検討する委員会を設けることを決めた。検討を否定するものではないが、築いてきた表現の自由が脅かされることのないよう、政府の動きにしっかり目を光らせる必要がある。

小６女子自殺―小さな命の叫びを聴く

2010/11/11
--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 10
EDITORIAL: Suicides in schools
小６女子自殺―小さな命の叫びを聴く

Akiko Uemura, a sixth-grader living in Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, who killed herself last month, wrote the following on a cartoon image she sketched in a notebook: "After all, friends are great!"
　「やっぱり『友達』っていいな！」と題した漫画をノートに残し、命を絶った群馬県桐生市の小学６年生、上村明子（うえむら・あきこ）さん。

The results of an inquiry conducted by the elementary school she attended were announced on Monday.
彼女が通っていた学校による調査結果が、明らかにされた。

Initially, the school denied that Akiko had been bullied.
　学校は初め、いじめの存在を認めなかった。

The report, however, concludes that harassment did in fact occur. It cites, for example, insults directed toward her by several of her classmates and the fact that she always ate her lunch alone. But it does not draw a clear link with her suicide.
報告では、複数の子から心ない言葉を投げかけられたこと、一人だけで給食を食べていたことから、いじめはあったと判断。ただ、自殺との関係は明らかではないとした。

With no suicide note found, a mere two weeks is insufficient to illuminate all the facts. It is utterly heartbreaking, however, that no one seriously listened or responded to this little girl's cries for help.
　遺書は見つかっておらず、わずか２週間での解明は難しい。それでも、小さな心の叫びをどこかで誰かが受け止められなかったかと、痛みが胸に刺さって抜けない。

Several basic lessons can be learned from this tragedy.
　いくつか教訓の芽を指摘できる。

One concerns the response to chaotic conditions in Akiko's sixth-grade class. There was reportedly a breakdown in discipline from the latter half of the first term, which ran from April.
Students were unruly and would wander away from their assigned groups during the lunch hour. They would ignore instructions from the class teacher.
　一つは、学級崩壊への対処のしかただ。１学期後半から子どもたちの落ち着きがなく、給食の班が乱れ、担任の指導も聞き入れられなかった。

In the midst of this confusion, it appears that Akiko found herself increasingly isolated. Other teachers stepped in to help deal with the issues in the class, but were unable to zero in on the anguish of one of its members.
クラス全体が混乱する中で、明子さんは孤立に追いやられたかに見える。他の先生も応援に入ったが、一人の苦しみまでには目がゆき届かなかった。

Both Akiko and her parents repeatedly complained about the verbal abuse. Each time her teacher responded by speaking with the perpetrators, making changes in group assignments and taking other steps.
　明子さんや家族から「嫌なことを言われる」といった訴えが、何度か寄せられた。そのつど担任は、相手の子に声をかけたり、班替えをしたりするなどの対応をとった。

Now we can only wonder what responses teachers could have taken in order to instill greater awareness in the bullying students of the impact of their behavior. Was Akiko provided with any refuge from her distress?
いじめた子たちに気づきを与えるには、どんな指導が望ましかったか。明子さんに、逃げ場を用意してあげられなかっただろうか。

Her family remains unconvinced by the principal's explanation. Both the school and the local board of education say the investigation will continue.
　校長らの説明に、家族は納得していない。学校や教育委員会は調査を続けるという。

Causes of suicide are generally difficult to pin down.
Nevertheless, no effort should be spared to share knowledge of what happened, reflect on the shortcomings in the response and issue a scrupulous explanation of the findings. Without such a process, there can be no recovery for those left behind or any hope of prevention.
一般に自殺は原因をつきとめにくいものだが、そうだとしても、何が起きたか事実を共有し、何が欠けていたか考え、丁寧に説明する。そうした過程なしには、残された者の回復と、真の再発防止はない。

We suggest enlisting outside experts. The children responsible for the harassment may also be hurt and may require counseling. The lessons ultimately brought to light should, furthermore, be widely shared with the rest of society.
　外部の専門家の知恵も借りてはどうか。いじめた子も傷ついているかもしれない。そのケアも必要だ。そのうえで、最終的にくみとれた教訓は、広く発信してほしい。

According to education ministry data, schools are aware of 165 student suicides in the last fiscal year. In nearly 60 percent of these cases, the specific circumstances surrounding the death of the children are listed as "unknown."
　文部科学省によると昨年度、学校が把握した児童生徒の自殺は１６５人。子どもが置かれていた状況が「不明」という事例が、６割近い。

All parents of suicide victims want to know why their children chose to kill themselves. In many cases, schools fail to conduct detailed inquiries and then allow the controversy to subside without uncovering the real causes.
　なぜ我が子が死んだか知りたいと、親は誰しも思う。なのに、学校が詳しい聞き取りをせず、原因をあいまいにしたまま沈静化を図ることが少なくない。

Denying from the outset that any bullying occurred is a sure way to invite mistrust.
最初からいじめを否定するといった対応は不信を招く。

Incidents of child suicide continue to occur nationwide.
　各地で子どもの自殺が続く。

In Kawasaki, where a third-year junior high school boy took his life this June, the city hall took three months to compile a report on the case.
　６月に中学３年の男子が自殺した川崎市では、３カ月かけて報告を作成。

In addition to acknowledging that harassment took place, the report also pointed to the student's psychological problems at that time, issues with guidance at the school in general and other factors. The boy's parents said the report was a first step toward trying to change today's schools.
いじめと認定したうえで、生徒の内面の葛藤（かっとう）や、学校全体の指導の問題まで指摘した。両親は「学校をどう変えるかに向かう第一歩」と評価した。

Just what were these troubled young people trying to tell us? It is the duty of adults to strain their ears and listen to the pleas of children in dire need.
　それぞれの命が訴えようとしたことは何だったか。耳を澄ませ、必死で探る。大人の責務である。

ＴＰＰ方針 「平成の開国」は待ったなしだ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 11, 2010)
Govt must seize chance to join TPP negotiations
ＴＰＰ方針　「平成の開国」は待ったなしだ（11月10日付・読売社説）

Japan remains uncertain on whether it will join a massive free trade framework that covers the Asia-Pacific region.
　アジア太平洋地域をカバーする巨大な自由貿易圏に加わるのかどうか、日本の姿勢は依然、あいまいなままだ。

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the government's basic policy on economic partnership agreement strategies, a field in which Japan is lagging behind its competitors.
　政府は９日、出遅れた経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）戦略の基本方針を閣議決定した。

As for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was seen as a focus of the basic policy, the government ended up using vague expressions, saying that Japan would "move expeditiously to improve the domestic environment" and "initiate consultations with TPP member countries." Stopping short of declaring its intent to participate in the TPP, the government effectively put off making a final decision.
　焦点だった環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）については、「国内の環境整備を早急に進め、関係国との協議を開始する」という表現にとどまった。参加を表明せず、判断を先送りしたものだ。

Last month, Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed his intention to consider joining the TPP. It cannot be denied that the government's policy announcement Tuesday seemed to be a step backward from what Kan had said.
　菅首相が先月表明した「交渉参加の検討」と比べると、後退した印象が否めない。

If things continue to stand as they are now, we will be unable to expect increased international competitiveness from Japanese companies.
　このままでは、日本企業の国際競争力向上は望めない。

===

No time for inaction

We urge the prime minister to exert his leadership to decide on Japan's participation in the TPP before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting opens this weekend in Yokohama and announce the decision to the rest of the world.
週末に横浜で開くアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議までに、首相は指導力を発揮してＴＰＰ参加を決断し、その方針を国際的に表明すべきではないか。

As part of the basic policy on trade liberalization, it was also agreed that the government will draw up in June next year principles to reform agriculture, a sector that will be key to Japan's future handling of the TPP. The government likely intends to decide whether to take part in the regional economic agreement around that time.
　ＴＰＰへの対応で、カギを握る農業については、改革方針を来年６月に策定することを決めた。政府はその前後に、ＴＰＰ参加の是非を判断するつもりらしい。

However, nine countries, including the United States and Australia, are already in negotiations on the TPP with a view to reaching an agreement in November next year. Given this schedule, it will be too late to draw up a reform plan on agriculture in June, and Japan will miss the chance to join negotiations on the agreement. The prime minister must bring forward the schedule on the agricultural reform plan, aiming to enter negotiations as soon as possible.
　しかし、ＴＰＰは米国や豪州など９か国が交渉中で、来年１１月の合意を目指している。６月の農業改革案の策定では遅く、交渉参加の時機を逸してしまう。首相は策定を前倒しし、早期に交渉入りを目指さねばならない。

The government's policy on the TPP turned out to be vague as a result of confrontations, within both the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, between TPP advocates and those who oppose market liberalization for farm products. They ended up compromising on ambiguous expressions.
　ＴＰＰの方針があいまいになったのは、政府と民主党内で、推進派と農産品の市場開放に抵抗する反対派が対立した結果、玉虫色の表現で妥協したからだ。

===

Is the door closing?

However, a significant difference exists between consultations for the purpose of gathering information and actual negotiations. With such vagueness in the TPP policy, Japan may be turned away at the door by other countries that are already in negotiations.
　情報収集を目的とする協議と実際の交渉とでは大違いだ。この方針では、日本は門前払いされる恐れもある。

In the first place, even if Japan officially announces its participation in the negotiations, it will have to gain approval from the nine countries to join the process. In addition, Japan will be subject to strict conditions to enter negotiations, such as not exempting certain products that are currently protected with high tariffs, such as rice, from tariff abolitions.
　もっとも、日本が交渉への参加を正式表明したとしても、９か国の同意が必要なうえ、高関税で保護しているコメなどの特定品目を関税撤廃の例外扱いにしないとの厳しい条件が課される。

Canada, which is reluctant to fully open its dairy product market, has not been allowed to join the TPP talks. With agricultural organizations and other parties opposing liberalization of farm products, Japan faces a high hurdle to joining the negotiations.
　乳製品の市場開放に消極的なカナダは、まだ交渉参加を認められていない。農業団体などが農産物の自由化に反対している中、日本の交渉参加のハードルも高い。

But if Japan does not join the TPP, the country will suffer tremendous disadvantages. The country will be excluded from the Asia-Pacific free trade framework and may lose trade and investment opportunities in the region.
　日本がＴＰＰ不参加の場合、不利益は甚大だ。アジア太平洋の自由貿易圏から締め出され、貿易や投資の機会を失いかねない。

A recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey showed that 60 percent of the public thinks the country should take part in TPP negotiations, a result that can be translated as indicating the public's high expectations for the TPP accord.
　本紙の全国世論調査で、６割がＴＰＰ交渉に参加すべきだと答えている。ＴＰＰへの期待の高さを示したと言えよう。

The prime minister is calling for "opening up the nation in the Heisei era [which began in 1989]," aiming to unite market liberalization and revitalization of the agricultural sector. With a number of difficulties lying ahead on the road to realizing those goals, the government will have to come up with concrete measures to promptly materialize them.
　首相は、市場開放と農業再生との両立を目指す「平成の開国」を掲げる。前途多難だが、迅速に実現する具体策が問われよう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 10, 2010)
（2010年11月10日01時55分 読売新聞）