Japan's Prime Minister Mocks TPP Protestors On Facebook

from the taking-concerns-seriously? dept

Japan recently agreed to join in the negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that has many significant problems, which we’ve been highlighting for years. Apparently, Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has no interest in listening to those concerns. Some TPP protestors showed up at an Abe event in Tokyo, and his response was to mock and belittle them and their concerns on Facebook.

“I was touched that so many of you came to Shibuya,” wrote the prime minister, whose frequent Facebook posts cover everything from a college reunion to a foreign policy debate. “There were some leftists with microphones and drums in the audience who tried hard, with hatred, to interrupt our speeches. But I must say that gave us fight. Thank You. A child in front laughed them off, saying ‘Quiet!’ Admirable. Please remember that those are representatives of embarrassing adults.”

The Facebook post has since been deleted, but it raises serious concerns about how seriously the Japanese government will listen to the widespread concerns about the excessive nature of the TPP. Making things even more bizarre, when a reporter asked a spokesperson from Abe’s office about why the post had been taken down, the person said it hadn’t and was still available on his own computer.

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Comments on “Japan's Prime Minister Mocks TPP Protestors On Facebook”

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23 Comments
Anonymous Coward says:

The Japanese government actually doesn’t want any input from anyone.

Japan have one of the most exaggerated copyrights in the world, recently they even passed some more laws that nobody knew about it because it was done in secret behind closed doors and disclosed after the fact.

So no, don’t expect the Japanese government to listen to anything, they are the ones that designed and proposed to others these treaties.

Anonymous Coward says:

this just shows that the Japanese government, like so many others today, are not in the least bit interested in listening to their own people. they get into power on false promise after false promise only to reject every concern raised by those they are supposed to be representing. it is nothing less than a dictatorship but to put a post like this up shows to me how childish the actual poster, the Prime Minister himself, really is! he should be ashamed of himself and start doing his job, not just what the USA tells him to do!!

Anonymous Coward says:

Re: Re:

It IS his job to listen to USA. The people doesn’t so he has to.

Japan is the only country who has officially ratified ACTA, which leads me to the conclusion: The problem in Japan is not USA, it is the lack of “democratic tradition” including wider strikes and protests…

Masnick = Total Fake says:

Japan recently agreed to join in the negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that has many significant problems, which we’ve been highlighting for years.

Have you? All I’ve seen is you whine about all of it and then run away when anyone wants to discuss your concerns in the comments. It’s all you just tilting at windmills and none of you having a productive conversation about it.

But this is TechTurd and you’re Mike Whiny Boy Masnick, so what would anyone expect?

Apparently, Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has no interest in listening to those concerns.

You know who else doesn’t care about listening to anyone else’s concerns? You, Chubby!! It’s amazing how you’re critical of others who do the same shit you do. It’s hilarious. And sad. Just like you!!

Anonymous Coward says:

Re: Re:

“You know who else doesn’t care about listening to anyone else’s concerns?”

Answer: Most all of our “world leaders”.

Some leaders we got here. They should be out in front leading the way … but where do we find them? Cowering in corners, so afraid of their own citizens that they send in troops. Wow, great leadership qualities you got there.

“It’s amazing how you’re critical of others who do the same shit you do”

You complain about the lack of productive conversation whilst not providing any productive conversation. Go deeper.

Anonymous Coward says:

The Facebook post has since been deleted, but it raises serious concerns about how seriously the Japanese government will listen to the widespread concerns about the excessive nature of the TPP.

Consider that perhaps the “concerns” aren’t actually widespread enough for the Japanese government to give a flying fuck. Kind of like it is in the US.

Anonymous Coward says:

Lip Service

Abe wants to join the TPP because not doing so, in his mind, means losing our preferred status with the US. Once we have joined of course there will be the usual foot dragging, wrangling, wringing of hands and not one solid step will be made to adhere to the treaty on our part.

Remember we promised to liberalize the rice trade decades ago. How much American rice does Japan buy? How much American rice can you see on the shelves in Seiyu, Jusco or Aeon supermarkets?

I’m more worried about Abenomics! Anybody need a bridge built in the middle of nowhere or a nuclear reactor that is almost guaranteed to fail critically?

Here’s what 70yrs of the LDP gave us http://regex.info/i/JEF_027676.jpg

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