Scenes of Russian citizens opposing the invasion in Ukraine being violently taken away by police in the streets were reported many times on TV and other media.
The practice of policing those who express opposition to state policies, as if they were criminals is found in many dictatorships.
In Japan, a man and a woman shouted “Abe quit” and “Oppose tax hikes” in the street when former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo, the head of the long-term government, gave a speech in Sapporo in support of the 2019 Upper House election.
The police action that excluded the two led to a lawsuit claiming that it violated the freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution.
The police claimed that the exclusion was a lawful act under the Police Duties Execution Act, while the two citizens claimed that they were illegally deprived of their voices of political criticism.
On March 25 this year, the Sapporo District Court ordered the police to pay 880,000 yen for the violation of the two citizen’s freedom of expression.
The court ruled that freedom of expression was an “important right that underlies a democratic society.”
The police cited the safety of the surrounding people as the reason, but multiple videos taken at the scene revealed this to be untrue.
There is a saying in Japan, “If you can't beat them, join them.”
This will be a case study given to courage for democracy to the people of the world who have so far kept their mouths closed against dictatorial governments.
ウクライナ侵攻に
ukuraina’shinkou ni
the invasion in Ukraine
反対する
hanntai suru
opposing
ロシア市民が
roshia’shiminn ga
(of) Russian citizens
暴力的に
bouryoku’teki ni
violently
連行される
rennkou sareru
being taken away
何度も
nanndo mo
many times
報道されました。
houdou sare mashita.
were reported
反対の意見を
hanntai no ikenn wo
opposition
表明する
hyoumei suru
who express
犯罪者
hannzai’sha
(they were) criminals
取り締まる
torishimaru
(of) policing
やり方は、
yarikata ha,
the practice
独裁国家
dokusai’kokka
dictatorships
見られます。
mirare masu.
is found
2019年の
ninenn juu kyuu nenn no
twenty nineteen [year]
参院選
sanninn’senn
the Upper House election
長期政権
chouki’seikenn
the long-term government
トップであった
toppu de atta
the head
安倍晋三
abe shinnzou
Abe Shinzo
元首相が
moto’shushou ga
former Prime Minister
街頭応援演説をした
gaitou’ouenn’ennzetsu wo shita
gave a speech in support in the street
「増税反対」と
“zouzei’hanntai” to
(and) oppose tax hikes
男女2人が
dannjo futari ga
a man and a woman
野次を飛ばしました。
yaji wo tobashi mashita.
shouted
排除した
haijo shita
that excluded
行為は、
koui ha,
the action
憲法
kennpou
the constitution
保障する
hoshou suru
guaranteed
表現
hyougenn
expression
自由を
jiyuu wo
the freedom
侵害した
shinngai shita
(it) violated claiming
発展しました。
hattenn shi mashita.
led
警察側は、
keisatsu’gawa ha,
the police
排除は
haijo ha
the exclusion
警察官職務執行法
keisatsu’kann’shokumu’shikkou’hou
the Police Duties Execution Act
適法な行為
tekihou na koui
a lawful act
政治批判
seiji’hihann
political criticism
奪われた
ubawareta
they were deprived
主張しました。
shuchou shi mashita.
claimed
札幌地裁は
sapporo’chisai ha
the Sapporo District Court
3月
sann gatsu
(on) March
25日、
nijuu go nichi,
twenty-five [day]
2人の
futari no
the two citizen’s
表現
hyougenn
expression
侵害された
shinngai sareta
the violation
警察側に
keisatsu’gawa ni
the police
88万円の
hachijuu hachi mann enn no
eight hundred and eighty thousand yen
命じました。
meiji mashita.
ordered
表現
hyougenn
expression
「民主主義社会を
“minnshu’shugi’shakai wo
a democratic society
基礎づける
kiso dukeru
that underlies
重要な権利」
juuyou na kennri”
(was) an important right
判決でした。
hannketsu deshita.
the court ruled
警察側は
keisatsu’gawa ha
the police
周囲の
shuui no
surrounding
安全確保を
annzenn’kakuho wo
the safety
理由としました
riyuu to shi mashita
cited as the reason
撮影した
satsuei shita
taken
複数の
fukusuu no
multiple
動画により
douga ni yori
videos
真実ではないことが
shinnjitsu deha naikoto ga
(this) to be untrue
明らかになりました。
akiraka ni nari mashita.
revealed
「長いものには巻かれろ」
“nagai mono niha makarero”
if you can't beat them join them
ことわざが
kotowaza ga
a saying
この判決は、
kono hannketsu ha,
this
独裁的政治
dokusai’teki’seiji
dictatorial governments
口を閉ざしてきた
kuchi wo tozashite kita
who have kept their mouths closed
民主主義
minn’shushugi
democracy
勇気を与える
yuuki wo ataeru
given to courage
となるでしょう。
to naru deshou.
will be