The United States expressed concern Friday about «increasing pressure» on the media by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government, citing…
WASHINGTON —
The United States expressed concern Friday about “increasing pressure” on the media by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government, citing remarks by a member of his Cabinet that could seen as threatening freedom of speech and the press.
In its annual human rights report for 2016, the State Department referred to Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments made in February last year that broadcast stations could be ordered to cease operations if they repeatedly present politically biased content.
“Several incidents gave rise to concerns about increasing government pressure against critical and independent media,” the report said.
Takaichi “reiterated, while denying any plan or intention to take such a step, the government’s right to shut down broadcasters that it determined were politically biased,” it said.
