The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) has been requested for a dissolution order. The victims had called for special legislation to preserve their assets in order to prevent their assets from being used for victims’ relief and being leaked to the church’s headquarters in South Korea. However, ruling parties such as the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have decided not to protect the assets and have instead submitted special legislation to the Diet that focuses on supporting lawsuits for damages. Why did they come up with such a watered-down proposal? (Shintaro Soda, Ikuko Kihara)
Lawyers from the National Federation of Bar Associations advocated the need for legislation to protect assets at Kasumigaseki, Tokyo on October 13th.
“I understand that this bill was compiled after vigorous deliberation by the ruling party regarding effective victim relief measures while also listening to the opinions of victims, their lawyers, religious figures, and constitutional scholars.It is a constitutional requirement. It has been designed to be effective and sympathize with victims who suffer from poverty and social isolation, while also taking into consideration religious freedom and property rights.
On the 21st, Chairman Yudo Moriyama emphasized the significance of the bill at a press conference after the Liberal Democratic Party’s general board meeting, which approved the special bill for relief for victims of the former Unification Church compiled by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito. The bill was then submitted to the Diet by three parties, including the Democratic Party of the People. Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives Kenji Wakamiya, who was in charge of coordinating the bill, said, “We will definitely pass the bill in this session of the Diet, and above all else, we will do our best to provide relief and support for victims in a way that is quick and helpful in a broad sense.” Told.
◆The main pillar of the proposal submitted by the public and private sector is support for lawsuits for compensation for damages.
The bill would strengthen oversight of property disposition of religious corporations that have received requests for dissolution orders. Requires notification to the competent authority when disposing of real estate. Financial documents such as property inventories will be submitted to the competent authorities every three months, allowing victims to view them. It also stipulates financial support to make it easier for victims to consult with the Japan Legal Support Center (Houterasu). Enable to reimburse the costs of judicial procedures and litigation regardless of financial strength.
However, what the victims have been asking for is a bill to preserve their assets. Regarding the reason for the decision, Mr. Wakamiya said, “Since the specific amount is not certain, it is difficult to comprehensively protect assets.More importantly, the process of filing a lawsuit and claiming compensation for damages is still pending. Currently, this is not being done very often, so we have put a lot of effort into improving the previous stages (of property preservation).”
◆ Komeito lawmaker “Property preservation also limits religious freedom”
On the other hand, a member of Komeito who was involved in discussions on the ruling party’s proposal said, “Preserving assets before the dissolution order is finalized could limit the freedom of religious activity and freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution, and it is necessary to ensure consistency with the Constitution.” “Instead, it would be more effective to enhance counseling support to make it easier for victims to go to court.”
House of Representatives Budget Committee held on the 21st
On the other hand, this time the government has decided not to submit a bill and will take action through legislation by members of the Diet. Regarding the reason for this, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Masahito Moriyama said at a press conference on October 24th, “The cult’s assets will first be acquired through civil preservation procedures, with individual victims taking the initiative to determine their claims, and then proceeding with claims and preservation procedures.” “The basic thing is to get involved. What the government can do is assist victims in filing claims through legal aid and other means, and we are working on that.”
◆Opposition parties criticize: “It’s not effective. Do they have other intentions?”
Meanwhile, on the 21st, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Japan Restoration Party withdrew their respective bills that had been submitted to the Diet and submitted a unified “Property Preservation Bill.” Akira Nagatsuma, chairman of the Ritsumeikan Democratic Party’s Policy Research Council, said of the three parties’ bills, “I have a sense of crisis in the situation where property preservation is not included, and the situation is being pushed through.I think the main thing is to limit the report to real estate.” However, if preservation is not included, no matter how you look at it, it will not be effective.It is wrong to say that (property preservation) is suspected of violating the Constitution, but it is a different matter that (the ruling party and others) do not approve of this bill. I can’t help but think that this was his intention.”
The National Liaison Association of Lawyers Against Spiritual Business Laws (National Federation of Bar Associations), which supports victims of the former Unification Church, has been calling for special legislation to preserve assets since May, before the request for a dissolution order was filed.
◆ “Are you the type of person who waits politely for orders to disband?”
Katsuomi Abe, a lawyer with the National Federation of Bar Associations, worries that, “If we don’t protect our assets, there is an extremely high possibility that our assets will be lost.”
A trial has begun at the Tokyo District Court regarding the request for a dissolution order, but even if the order is granted as requested, it will take more time for the order to be finalized if the church side contests it. In fact, it took six months for Aum Shinrikyo to receive a dissolution order for violation of laws and regulations.
Tomihiro Tanaka, chairman of the former Unification Church, leaves the press conference after announcing a 10 billion yen deposit.A panel of the founder was displayed behind it on the 7th in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo.
“While a dissolution order is issued by the district court and finalized by the high court, there may be a move to hide assets.This is not the type of religious corporation that waits politely for a dissolution order,” Abe said. “If things continue as they are, there is a possibility that there will be no assets left to help victims by the time the cult is disbanded.” The LDP’s plan to submit an inventory of assets every three months is a sign that the cult is doing its best. “It could also lead to this,” he said.
At a press conference on the 7th of this month, Tomihiro Tanaka, chairman of the former Unification Church, proposed a plan to deposit up to 10 billion yen with the government to compensate for the damage. This is an attempt to check the movement of opposition parties who are concerned about “hidden assets” and are planning regulatory measures, but on the other hand, it is proof that the cult has such assets.
Eight Suzuki, a journalist familiar with the cult, said, “According to the cult’s documents from about 10 years ago, it also owned land in Hawaii, and the coffee plantation company was also owned by the cult.It’s unclear right now, but in any case… “I have quite a lot of hidden assets,” he declares.
◆Information that “instructions have been given to have it transported to South Korea”
In fact, there are movements to protect them. “At one point, Japanese district executives were instructed to send 1 million yen to South Korea, which was not needed for Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act declarations.Due to internal opposition, the amount was reduced to approximately 150,000 yen.” However, there is information that 150 million yen has already flowed to the South Korean side.
Approximately 50 members of Congress involved in drafting the bill were reportedly sent a fax stating that there was no need for a bill to protect property. “The religious group is determined not to enact a property preservation law no matter what.If the ruling party’s bill passes, they can preserve their property as much as they want, which is all they want,” Suzuki said.
◆“Wisdom so that we can fulfill our responsibilities to victims”
The Liberal Democratic Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, and other parties raised concerns that the property preservation legislation would harm “freedom of religion,” and proceeded to water down the legislation. However, religious scholar Susumu Shimazono said, “We must be conscious of religious freedom, but this is a religious group that has continued to torment its victims for such a long time.The ruling and opposition parties should pool their wisdom to fulfill their responsibilities to the victims.” talk.
Mr. Shimazono cited the example of the Group Regulation Act, which was enacted in 1999 to regulate Aum Shinrikyo, and said, “This bill is once again aimed at the former Unification Church.However, the former Unification Church has never admitted its sins.” “I think the most important thing is to be able to take responsibility for helping victims.”
If the ruling party’s plan is enacted as is, it is unclear where the black boxed church assets will end up.
◆The composition desired by a former religious second generation who “cannot fight alone”
Morusuko-chan (pseudonym), a second-generation former member of the former Unification Church, who watched the broadcast of the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on the 21st, said, “Jikoan is a bill with a hole in the bucket and is completely meaningless.” I get angry.
“Why have we, the victims, been able to work only anonymously? It’s an organization that cannot be fought by individuals, so if we protest using our real names, our lives will be at risk if we don’t do something wrong. ‘Country vs. “If we don’t have a structure like ‘Unification Church,’ we won’t be saved,” he continued.
“The LDP has made no attempt to face the victims, and the LDP in particular has proven to itself that it has not been able to sever ties with the cult at all.”
◆Desk memo
The government requested an order to disband the church, stating that “the church has caused large amounts of damage to many people and disrupted their peaceful lives,” but in the first place, the former Unification Church, which had been viewed as a problem for decades, was not considered a religious corporation. The government is also responsible for continuing to protect the area and contributing to the spread of the damage. Implementing the relief measures desired by the victims is at least compensation. (Ayumu)
2023-11-22 03:00:00
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