米・ミャンマー―対話を民主化にいかせ

I love Burma (Myanmar). Burma is one of the most important country in my life.
In order for the Myanmar regime to claim that democracy has taken root solidly in the country, it must release all political prisoners, reconcile itself with ethnic minorities and amend the Constitution, which provides legal foundation for the military’s rule.
(srachai)
私はビルマ（ミャンマー）が大好きです。ビルマは私にとって特別な国なのです。
民主化が定着したというには、政治犯の全員釈放、少数民族との和解に加え、軍の支配構造を支える憲法が改正されなければならない。
（スラチャイ）

--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 3
EDITORIAL: Myanmar must continue with political reforms toward true democracy
米・ミャンマー―対話を民主化にいかせ

Aung San Suu Kyi, the iconic leader of Myanmar's (Burma's) pro-democracy movement, shook hands with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and had a private dinner with her on Dec. 2 in Yangon (Rangoon), the country's commercial capital.
　ミャンマー（ビルマ）の民主化運動指導者アウン・サン・スー・チーさんと米国のクリントン国務長官がヤンゴンで握手し夕食をともにした。

This would have been unimaginable just half a year ago.
半年前には想像できなかった光景である。

After meeting with the country's new president, Thein Sein, Clinton praised the steps he has taken for political reform, including the release of political prisoners and dialogue with pro-democracy forces, and said the United States will consider upgrading diplomatic relations with Myanmar.
　テイン・セイン大統領と会談した長官は、政治犯の一部釈放や民主化勢力との対話など一連の措置を歓迎し、外交関係の格上げを検討すると表明した。

However, Clinton stopped short of explicitly referring to the possibility of lifting Washington’s economic sanctions against Myanmar, saying Thein Sein’s reforms had only just begun.
　一方で改革は始まったばかりだとして経済制裁の解除には踏み込まなかった。

She also warned the regime against military cooperation with North Korea.
北朝鮮との軍事協力には強く釘を刺した。

Clinton’s visit to Myanmar is the first step for President Barack Obama’s new security strategy, which defines the Asia-Pacific region as a “top priority.”
　今回の訪問は、アジア太平洋地域を「最優先」と位置づけるオバマ大統領の安保新戦略の第一歩といえる。

Having been under autocratic military rule for years, Mynamar is now making steady progress toward democracy.
This development can only be very beneficial to the United States and its allies.
軍事政権による独裁体制を長年続けた国が民主化を着実に進めれば、米国や同盟国の大きな利益となる。

But there is no room for unreserved optimism about the country’s current regime, whose key posts are occupied almost exclusively by former senior military officers.
Washington has good reason to think it would be premature to lift sanctions.
　しかし、かつての軍幹部が主要ポストを独占する現体制の行方を完全には楽観できない以上、制裁解除を時期尚早とした米政府の判断は妥当といえる。

The U.S. move is also intended as a warning to China, which has been increasing its influence over the geopolitically important Southeast Asian country.
　地政学上重要な位置にあるミャンマーで影響力を増す中国を牽制（けんせい）する狙いも米国にはあろう。

While the United States has continued its economic sanctions against Myanmar, China has helped develop ports in southern parts of the country and is now building a pipeline to carry natural gas from a Myanmar port to China’s Yunnan province.
制裁を続けるうちに、中国はミャンマー南部の港湾を整備し、雲南省につなぐ天然ガスパイプラインを建設している。

In September, however, Myanmar’s government decided to freeze construction of a dam in the north funded by aid from China.
　ミャンマー政府は９月、中国の支援で北部に建設中のダム工事の凍結を決めた。

The United States and other countries have welcomed the decision as a sign that Myanmar is reconsidering its unqualified pro-China foreign policy.
中国一辺倒の姿勢に変化の兆しがみえたとして米国などは歓迎している。

We, too, welcome the Myanmar government’s attempt to diversify its foreign policy focus and strike a balance between its relations with China and the United States if it contributes to the nation’s progress toward democracy.
　外交を多角化させ、米中間のバランスをとろうとするミャンマー政府の姿勢が、結果として民主化の促進につながるのであれば歓迎したい。

Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) recently re-registered as a political party after a ban on the group was lifted.
　スー・チーさん率いる国民民主連盟（ＮＬＤ）は法改正を受けて政党登録をすませた。

Aung San Suu Kyi has also announced her intention to run for parliamentary by-elections to be held next year.
スー・チーさん自身も来年に予定される国会の補欠選挙に立候補すると表明した。

Some people in the pro-democracy camp question the wisdom of her decision, recalling how the ruling military junta refused to recognize the result of the 1990 general election, in which the NLD won a landslide victory. These skeptics also point out that the number of parliamentary seats that come up for contest in the forthcoming by-elections will be less than one-tenth of the total.
　９０年の総選挙でＮＬＤが圧勝しながら軍政に黙殺された経緯や、補欠選挙で勝っても議席は国会の１０分の１に満たないことから、民主化勢力の内部にもこの決定を疑問視する声がある。

However, it is true that missing out on this opportunity would further muddy the party's political prospects.
　だがこの機会を逃せば、先の展望が見えないことも事実だ。

It is easy to imagine that it was a difficult decision to make.
苦渋の決断と想像できる。

Aung San Suu Kyi must be looking beyond next year to a victory in the general election scheduled for 2015.
その先には１５年の総選挙で勝利をめざす思いがあるはずだ。

In order for the Myanmar regime to claim that democracy has taken root solidly in the country, it must release all political prisoners, reconcile itself with ethnic minorities and amend the Constitution, which provides legal foundation for the military’s rule.
　民主化が定着したというには、政治犯の全員釈放、少数民族との和解に加え、軍の支配構造を支える憲法が改正されなければならない。

We hope the nation’s new government will pluck up the courage to make such bold moves.
新政権には大胆な妥協を望みたい。

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano will both visit the country soon.
　玄葉外相や枝野経済産業相が相次いで現地入りする。

Tokyo should also watch carefully to see whether Myanmar is making steady progress toward democracy before it decides to supply aid to the country or expand bilateral economic ties with it.
援助や経済交流促進の前提として、民主化の着実な進展を見極める必要があることを指摘したい。

円売り介入―「ドル安」阻止へ協調を

2011/08/06
--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 5
EDITORIAL: Coordinated intervention needed to prop up dollar.
円売り介入―「ドル安」阻止へ協調を

The government and the Bank of Japan made a coordinated effort to check the appreciation of the yen, which was about to mark a postwar high against the dollar.
　戦後最高値をうかがう円高ドル安の進行を阻止すべく、政府と日銀が連係プレーに踏み切った。

On Aug. 4, they conducted yen-selling intervention and decided to take additional steps to ease the supply of money.
きのう外国為替市場で単独の円売り介入を行うと同時に、追加の金融緩和を決めた。

The government is relying on exports to lift the economy and hasten rebuilding from the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake.
　東日本大震災からの復興を急ぐ日本経済は輸出を頼みとしたいところだが、

But the strong yen stands in the way.
ここを円高が圧迫している。

It is significant that the authorities sent a strong message to firmly control excessive moves by the market.
市場の行き過ぎた動きは断固として封じるという当局の強いメッセージを発した意味は大きい。

However, there is a limit to what Japan can do on its own.
　ただ、日本単独では影響力に限りもある。

We urge the government to work closely with the United States and major European economies.
欧米など主要国との連携を密にしてほしい。

The government also needs to implement comprehensive measures to lift the economy, such as strengthening its growth strategy.
政府には成長戦略の強化など総合的な対策も求められよう。

The recent trend of a stronger yen is not a result of investors putting faith in the growth of the Japanese economy.
　一連の円高は日本経済が評価された結果ではない。

Rather, it resulted from a loss of confidence in U.S. national bonds and the dollar as the U.S. government faced difficulties in raising its debt ceiling.
米国で債務上限の引き上げをめぐる調整が難航し、米国債やドルの信認が揺らいだことが大きい。

Furthermore, the annualized economic growth rate in real terms in the April-June quarter was low, at 1.3 percent, and a sense of uncertainty for the future of the U.S. economy is spreading.
　加えて、４～６月期の実質成長率は年率換算１．３％とふるわず、米国経済への先行き不透明感が強まっている。

In response, stock prices in major markets across the world, including New York, are declining and the dollar selling spree is spreading.
これを受けて、ニューヨークをはじめ世界の主要株式市場が値下がりし、ドルが売られている。

Now the money is buying the yen because the financial situation in Japan is relatively stable among industrialized countries and the market for fund management is large.
　ドルを離れたマネーが円に流れ込むのは、先進国の中で金融情勢が比較的安定しており、資金運用できる市場の規模も大きいためだ。

The euro, which could have been bought instead of the yen, is potentially vulnerable.
　受け皿となるべきユーロは財政不安が

Italy's fiscal problems are raising new concerns about prospects for the euro zone.
イタリアにも飛び火しかねず、

German government bonds, which are the only ones attracting investors, alone cannot absorb a large amount of funds flowing in the global market because the size of its issuance is limited.
主に買われるドイツ国債も発行規模が少なく、大量のマネーを抱えきれない。

Investors are turning to the yen by elimination, so to speak.
いわば、消去法としての円買いである。

The situation is similar to last summer's strong yen.
昨夏の円高の時と同様の構図が繰り返されている。

Since foreign exchange intervention alone is not enough, the Bank of Japan cut short its monetary policy meeting slated for two days starting Aug. 4 to one and proposed additional monetary easing measures.
　為替介入だけでは力不足のため、日銀はきのうから２日間の予定だった金融政策決定会合を１日に短縮し、追加の金融緩和策を打ち出した。

It plans to increase funds to buy assets from 40 trillion yen ($500 billion) to 50 trillion yen.
資産を買い入れたりするための基金の規模を４０兆円から５０兆円に増やす。

Japan's market intervention was carried out for the first time since March 18, a week after the earthquake.
　日本の市場介入は大震災直後の３月１８日以来、４カ月半ぶりだ。

Back then, speculators who expected Japanese companies to sell the dollar and buy the yen to sell their foreign assets and cover damage from the disaster, rushed in to make a head start.
このときは「日本の企業が震災で受けた損害を埋め合わせるため海外資産を売り、ドル売り円買いに出る」と見込んだ投機筋が先走った。

The Group of Seven major economies turned to coordinated intervention and acted as one to bring the confused market under control.
主要７カ国（Ｇ７）が一致して協調介入して相場の混乱を収拾した。

From Japan's viewpoint, the trend appears to be a surging yen.
　日本からは円高にみえる今回の流れは、

But from a global viewpoint, it is the weakening of the dollar.
世界的に見ればドル安だ。

Swiss authorities also decided to lower interest rates and are preparing to intervene.
スイス当局も利下げを決め、介入姿勢を強めている。

We urge Washington to firmly recognize that this historically unusual situation, of a possible U.S. debt default and lowering of credit ratings caused by domestic political confusion, allowed the currency situation to get out of order.
　米国政府は、自国の政治的混乱に伴う米国債の債務不履行や格下げの危険性という歴史的にも異例の事態が、通貨の変調をもたらしていることをしっかり認識してほしい。

In addition, Washington should clarify its stance to protect the value of the dollar as a key currency and bring market speculation under control.
そのうえで、基軸通貨ドルの価値を守るという姿勢を明確にし、市場の思惑を鎮めなければならない。

震災復興特区―１国２制度の意気で

宮沢賢治の農民芸術概論が参考になるかも。
震災と津波で生じた跡地利用が鍵になるでしょう。
陰湿で閉鎖的かつ排他的な漁業協同組合の体質は改めた方がよい。
まず漁業権を民間企業に解放する。
跡地に大規模なソーラーパネルの製造工場を誘致する。
跡地に大規模な馬鈴薯畑をつくり、バイオ燃料の基地とする。
居住区は、やはり高台に移転する。
中国のような経済特区をつくるのも効果的。
（スラチャイ）

2011/06/17
-- The Asahi Shimbun, June 16, 2011
EDITORIAL: Government must support prefectures' redevelopment plans
震災復興特区―１国２制度の意気で

More than three months since the Great East Japan Earthquake, local governments in affected areas are beginning to come up with plans for reconstruction while still working overtime to deal with the aftermath of the calamity.
　東日本大震災から３カ月余り。被災した自治体は復旧作業に追われつつ、復興への構想をまとめ始めた。

Miyagi and Iwate prefectures have presented their plans to create special zones for regional redevelopment to the central government's council on post-disaster reconstruction.
　宮城、岩手両県は、それぞれ復興特区構想を政府の復興構想会議に示した。

The two prefectures envision special zones to relocate devastated communities to areas on high ground, promote local industries, develop local transportation networks and build new medical, welfare and education facilities. The local governments are calling on the state to support these plans by providing special subsidies and unifying and simplifying the related administrative procedures that are cumbersome and highly bureaucratic.
高台への移住を核とするまちづくりや産業再興、交通網や医療・福祉、教育の整備などで、国からの補助金を手厚くしたり、省庁の縦割りに伴う様々な手続きを一本化・簡素化したりすることを求めている。

The central government has a duty to respond positively to these requests.
要望に応えていくことは国の責任だろう。

Notable about the two prefecture's special zone proposals is that they include ideas that could lead to solutions to some key policy challenges facing the entire nation.
　両県の特区構想で注目したいのは、日本全体が抱える課題への突破口になりうる案が含まれていることだ。

Miyagi Prefecture, for instance, has come up with a plan to establish a special zone for rebuilding the battered local fisheries industry by allowing private-sector companies to enter the business of off-shore fishing, which is now effectively monopolized by local fishery cooperatives.
　宮城県は水産業復興特区として、漁協がほぼ独占している沿岸漁業への民間企業の参入を打ち出した。

The plan is aimed at tapping the financial and intellectual resources of the private sector to revitalize the fisheries sector, which is struggling with the familiar problems of an aging workforce and a shortage of young fishermen.
後継者がいないまま高齢化が進む地元漁業に、民間の資金や知恵を呼び込むのが狙いだ。

While the local fishery cooperatives are opposed to the proposal, Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai is strongly committed to the idea.
漁協は反発しているが、村井嘉浩知事は強い意欲を示している。

In contrast to the deregulation zone plan for the fishery industry, the prefecture's special zone proposal to rebuild local agriculture and farming villages calls for tighter regulation.
　農業・農村モデル創出特区では、漁業とは逆に規制強化を訴える。

It would restrict the use of farmland by the landowners and tenants and put the land under municipal control for a certain period of time for the development of agricultural infrastructure and distribution of the land by the local governments.
農地の所有者や借地人の土地利用を制限し、市町村などが一定期間管理して基盤整備し、土地を配分するという案だ。

The proposal is aimed at promoting larger-scale and more efficient agriculture.
大規模で効率的な農業を目指す考えが土台にある。

Iwate Prefecture has proposed a "Tohoku international science and technology research special zone."
　岩手県は「ＴＯＨＯＫＵ国際科学技術研究特区」を掲げる。

It would create a special zone for cutting-edge research in the three areas of ocean, disaster prevention and energy.
海洋、防災、エネルギーの３分野で先端研究ゾーンを造ろうと、

The prefecture is pressing the central government to ease the regulations concerning housing, education and residence status to make it easier to invite foreign researchers to work in the special zone.
海外の研究者を呼び込むために住まいや教育、在留資格などで規制緩和を求めている。

To help realize these proposals, it is vital for the state to give the local governments both the powers and revenue sources needed.
　構想を実現するには、自治体に権限と財源をセットで確保することが欠かせない。

In Japan, the first major special zone program was launched by the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to promote his structural reform initiative.
　特区では、小泉内閣が始めた構造改革特区が知られる。

The program is still alive with the continuing designation of areas as new special deregulation zones.
特区の認定は今も続いており、

The number of such special zones has surpassed 1,100.
１１００を超えた。

But this program brings the benefits of deregulation only to specific industries and businesses, as symbolized by the "doburoku (raw sake) special zone."
しかし、「どぶろく特区」に象徴される通り、規制緩和の効果は個別の分野・事業に限られる。

These special zones are all very small in both scale and scope.
いかにも小粒だ。

The two main factors behind this are the system for designation that requires negotiations with the ministries and agencies regulating the industries and businesses involved and the lack of fiscal and tax incentives.
権限を持つ省庁と交渉してから認定する仕組みになっていることと、財政・税制の優遇措置を欠いたことが原因だ。

The special zone proposals put forward by Miyagi and Iwate prefectures require effective coordination among the multiple ministries and agencies involved.
　宮城、岩手両県の特区構想は複数の省庁にまたがる。

And effective fiscal and tax incentives are also needed to support their efforts.
財政・税制上の後押しも必要だろう。

The proposals should prompt the central government to make a comprehensive review of the related laws and regulations.
構想を出発点に、一括して規制や法律を見直すことだ。

One key step would be to scrap the current state subsidies for specific local government expenditures based on the rigid division of powers and responsibilities among ministries and agencies and introduce instead a new program to provide prefectures and municipalities with state funds they can use freely over several years.
省庁縦割りの補助金から、使い道を自由に決められ、数年度にわたって支出できる一括交付金に切り替える。

The special zones in disaster areas should be supported by more powerful measures than simple incentives for investment, such as exempting companies operating in these zones from corporate taxation for a certain period of time.
特区内の企業は法人税を一定期間免除するなど、

These zones should be put under a different set of regulations according to a sort of "one country, two systems" approach.
投資優遇を超えた「１国２制度」的な措置に踏み込めないか。

Localities should be allowed and encouraged to take the initiative in the efforts to shape a new future for the nation.
　地方が主導権を握りつつ、あすの日本を切り開く。

The ideas for reconstruction in disaster-hit areas proposed by local governments in the areas should be fully respected.
現場発の構想を大切にしたい。

君が代判決―少数者守る司法はどこへ

節目節目に起立して君が代を歌うのになんら抵抗感はない。
日教組の一部が騒いでいるのではないでしょうか。
しかしながら、歌いたくない者に職権を利用して歌わせるのは行き過ぎでしょう。
ここは個人の自由裁量にすべきです。
私は起立して君が代を厳粛な気持ちで歌います。
皆さんはいかがでしょうか？
（スラチャイ記）

2011/01/31
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 29
EDITORIAL: Court ruling on anthem
君が代判決―少数者守る司法はどこへ

The award-winning comedy "Utawasetai Otoko Tachi" (Men who want the song to be sung), written and directed by Ai Nagai, is set on the day of a commencement ceremony at a Tokyo high school.
　数々の演劇賞を受賞した永井愛さん作・演出の喜劇「歌わせたい男たち」（２００５年初演）は、卒業式の日を迎えた都立高校が舞台だ。

The school principal is desperate to make sure that the ceremony will proceed according to the instructions of the board of education. But there are some teachers who are determined not to stand for the singing of the national anthem "Kimigayo" in defiance of the board's instructions. There is also a part-time music teacher who has been ordered to play a piano accompaniment to the singing of the anthem without being aware of the conflict.
　教育委員会の指示通りに式を進めようと必死の校長。君が代斉唱の時、起立しないと決めている教師。そんな葛藤があることを知らぬまま、ピアノ伴奏を命じられた音楽講師……。

They are all good-natured people but get exhausted and hurt in the struggle and find themselves caught in a bind.
　根はいい人ばかりなのに、みな消耗し、傷つき、追いつめられていく。

In a ruling on the issue that provided inspiration for the play, the Tokyo High Court on Friday rejected all the requests made in a lawsuit by some 400 teachers and other staff members at high schools in the capital.
The plaintiffs asked the court to confirm that they and their colleagues have no obligation to stand for the anthem or play an accompaniment. They also sought compensation for the punishment they received for refusing to take such actions.
The high court overturned a lower court's ruling that said the Tokyo metropolitan government's instructions requiring school staff members to stand for the anthem and play musical accompaniment violated the Constitution, which guarantees "freedom of thought and conscience."
　芝居の素材になった都立高校で働く教職員ら約４００人が、君が代の際に起立斉唱したり伴奏したりする義務がないことの確認や慰謝料を求めた裁判で、東京高裁は請求をすべて退ける判決を言い渡した。「起立や伴奏を強制する都の指導は、思想・良心の自由を保障した憲法に違反する」とした一審判決は取り消された。

This is an extremely regrettable decision.
　極めて残念な判断だ。

In a separate suit over whether ordering a teacher to play an accompaniment to the anthem violates the Constitution, the Supreme Court in 2007 ruled that such an order is not unconstitutional.
ピアノ伴奏を命じることの当否が争われた別の訴訟で、最高裁は０７年に合憲判決を言い渡している。

Following the reasoning shown in the top court ruling, the high court argued that ordering teachers to sing the anthem or play an accompaniment doesn't amount to denying their individual views and thoughts about history and the world and therefore doesn't violate the Constitution.
高裁はこの判例をなぞり、斉唱や伴奏を命じたからといって個々の教職員の歴史観や世界観まで否定することにはならない、だから憲法に違反しないと結論づけた。

The high court's argument shows no sign of sensitivity to the importance of protecting and tolerating as much as possible the values and principles individual citizens cherish and follow. The ruling sounds like simply preaching the gospel of conformity, citing the frivolous reasons that this is something which everybody does and that the plaintiffs are public servants.
　判決理由からは、国民一人ひとりが大切にする価値や譲れぬ一線をいかに守り、なるべく許容していくかという問題意識を見いだすことはできない。「誰もがやっているのだから」「公務員なのだから」と理屈を並べ、忍従をただ説いているように読める。

Is this acceptable?
　それでいいのだろうか。

We are not opposed to the hoisting of the national flag or the singing of the anthem at school ceremonies. But we have argued that using the threat of punishment to enforce these actions is going too far.
　私たちは、式典で国旗を掲げ、国歌を歌うことに反対するものではない。ただ、処分を科してまでそれを強いるのは行き過ぎだと主張してきた。

The judiciary should be different from the legislative and administrative branches of the government, where the rule of the majority is the basic principle. Its most important role in a democratic society is the protection of the human rights of minorities.
　最後は数の力で決まる立法や行政と異なり、少数者の人権を保護することにこそ民主社会における司法の最も重要な役割がある。

Both the Supreme Court and the high court should be criticized for abandoning their principal mission and thereby undermining the importance of their own institution.
最高裁、高裁とも、その使命を放棄し、存在意義を自らおとしめていると言うほかない。

In recent years, the number of teachers disciplined by the Tokyo metropolitan government over the matter has been declining.
　近年、この問題で都の処分を受ける教職員は減っている。

That's because violators are punished by increasingly severer penalties--first a reprimand, then a salary cut and finally suspension. In addition, defiant teachers are denied opportunities for re-employment by the metropolitan government after retirement.
違反すると、罰は戒告、減給、停職と回を追って重くなるうえ、定年後の再雇用が一切認められなくなるからだ。

It seems necessary for us to reflect on the fact that school ceremonies are conducted according to the instructions of the metropolitan government only because of such threats and considerations of loss.
そんな脅しと損得勘定の上に粛々と行われる式典とは何なのか。いま一度、立ち止まって考える必要があるように思う。

When a law was enacted in 1999 to give official status to the flag and anthem, then Education Minister Akito Arima told the Diet that the legislation would not change the professional duties of teachers.
　国旗・国歌法が制定された９９年、当時の有馬朗人文相は国会で「教員の職務上の責務について変更を加えるものではない」と言明し、
（以下の英文部分が見当たりません。翻訳抜けでしょう＾＾）

小渕恵三首相も「国民の生活に何らの影響や変化が生ずることとはならない」と述べた。

　ところが現在、教職員ばかりか、生徒や保護者、来賓の態度をチェックする動きが各地で報告されている。

Society must be vigilant for signs that the high court ruling may be promoting intolerance or stifling freedom.
　今回の高裁判決が、こうした息苦しさを助長することのないよう、社会全体で目を凝らしていきたい。

国債格下げ―「疎い政治」への重い警告

2011/01/31
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 29
EDITORIAL: Downgraded bonds
国債格下げ―「疎い政治」への重い警告

Just as the Diet was beginning debate on the government's draft budget for new fiscal year and tax reform, a dire warning about Japan's fiscal health came from outside.
　新年度予算案や税制改革について国会論戦が始まりつつある時に、場外から強烈な警鐘が響いた。

Standard & Poor's, a U.S. credit rating agency, downgraded Japanese government bonds to a rating one notch below that for Spain, whose fiscal woes have been arousing international concerns. The move has underscored the fragility of international confidence in Japan's public finances.
　米格付け会社のスタンダード・アンド・プアーズ（Ｓ＆Ｐ）が日本国債の格付けを引き下げた。財政懸念が高まるスペインよりもひとつ下というランクは、日本の財政に対する国際的信用の危うさを示すものだ。

Credit rating agencies were roundly criticized after they failed to issue an appropriate warning about the global financial crisis.
　格付け会社は世界金融危機に適切な警告を発せられず、批判を浴びた。

Unfortunately, there is little room for disputing the downgrading of Japan's sovereign debt. The combined central and local government debt load now equals 200 percent of gross domestic product, which means Japan's public finances are in the worst shape among industrial countries.
だが残念ながらこの格下げに異論をはさむ余地は少ない。日本の国と地方の借金総額は国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の２倍にのぼり、先進国で最悪。

The fiscal crunch is evidenced by the fact that the government will have to borrow more money than its tax revenue to finance the budget for next fiscal year.
政府は税収より多額の借金に頼らねば、毎年度の予算さえ組めないのだから。

The situation is that the government could have found it difficult to issue new bonds due to a sharp drop in confidence in its creditworthiness.
　市場の信認低下で国債発行が難しくなってもおかしくない。

Yet Japan has so far been able to keep issuing huge amounts of new bonds because it has more foreign assets than any other country and is running a current-account surplus. It has also helped that most government bonds have been bought by domestic investors.
にもかかわらず、日本が巨額の国債発行を続けてこられたのは世界最大の対外資産をもち、経常黒字国だという事情もある。国債の引き受け手の大半が国内投資家だというのも強みだ。

The savings rate and current-account surplus could drop significantly, however, as its working population shrinks due to rapid demographic aging.
　しかし超高齢化で現役世代が減れば貯蓄率の低下や経常黒字の縮小もありえよう。

Japanese investors may eventually start getting out of government bonds. There is no guarantee that the government will be able to keep piling on fresh debt.
国内投資家が日本国債を見限るようになるかもしれない。巨額発行を続けられる保証はない。

What is especially disturbing is the fact that S&P cited the political situation in Japan in its reasons for lowering the debt rating.
　とりわけ深刻なのは、Ｓ＆Ｐの格下げ理由に日本の政治状況があげられたことだ。

The opposition parties, which control the Upper House, are taking an increasingly confrontational posture, making the outlook for bipartisan talks on integrated tax and social security reform bleak. There is even the possibility that bills related to the government's spending plan for the year starting in April may not be enacted.
ねじれ国会のもとで野党が対決色を強め、税と社会保障の一体改革は協議入りもかなり難しい。新年度予算案の関連法案が成立しない可能性さえある。

There is considerable room for Japan to raise its consumption tax rate, which is the lowest in the developed world. Markets have been acting with the expectation that the government would eventually raise the tax, but Japan's leaders have failed to pluck up the courage to tackle this policy challenge.
その懸念が国債の格付けに響いているのである。
　日本の消費税率は先進国で最も低く、まだ引き上げ余地がある。日本政府はいずれ増税に踏み切るだろう。市場にはそういう期待と確信があった。だが日本の政治は重い腰を上げられないでいる。いまや市場から不信感が突きつけられたのだ。

Prime Minister Naoto Kan pledged to stake his political life on his initiative to push through integrated tax and social security reform. So it was deeply disheartening to hear him say, "I'm not familiar with that kind of things," when he was asked about the debt downgrade.
　一体改革に「政治生命をかける」と言った菅直人首相が格下げについて聞かれ、「そういうことに疎い」と答えたのは情けない。

Instead, he should have emphatically said, "I will achieve without fail both fiscal rehabilitation and economic growth through reforms."
「改革で、財政再建も経済成長も必ず成し遂げます」と、力強く言うべきだった。

Criticizing his remarks would not be of much help. What lies at the heart of the problems that have led to the cut in the debt rating of Japan is the overall political paralysis.
Part of the blame falls on the opposition Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, which is apparently more interested in pressuring the Kan administration into dissolving the Lower House for a general election than in responding to the fiscal crisis and is showing no willingness to hold talks with the ruling camp over the proposed integrated reform.
　だが、首相の言葉尻を問うことが本質的な問題ではない。財政危機への対処よりも政権を解散・総選挙に追い込むことにこだわり、一体改革についての協議に応じる姿勢を見せない自民党などを含む政治全体の機能不全が、今回の格下げの根底に横たわる。

It seems lawmakers of both camps who are not willing to start discussing a tax hike are acting irresponsibly on the unreasonably optimistic view that it will still be a while before Japan's public finances reach a tipping point.
　「財政はまだ当分は大丈夫だろう」という無責任な楽観論が、増税論議に入ろうとしない与野党議員たちの胸の内にあるのではないか。

The ruling and opposition parties should go beyond their political interests and launch nonpartisan talks on measures needed to secure long-term fiscal sustainability for the sake of the public.
　与野党は打算を超えて国民の利益のため、持続可能な財政へ向け超党派の議論を始めるべきだ。

Unless Japanese political leaders demonstrate a strong commitment to addressing the problem, both international confidence in government bonds and expectations for Japanese politics will only keep sinking.
その強い意思を内外に示さない限り、日本国債の信用も政治への期待も沈むばかりだ。

ベトナム新体制―政治改革にもドイモイを

2011/01/25
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 24
EDITORIAL: Change in Vietnam
ベトナム新体制―政治改革にもドイモイを

In Japanese eyes, what kind of country is Vietnam? For the older generation, Vietnam evokes images of winning its war of national liberation against France and the United States. For the young generation, Vietnam might be a cheap vacation spot where they can buy cute bric-a-brac. Of late, Vietnam is gaining attention as a potential buyer of nuclear power plants and Shinkansen trains.
　日本にとって、ベトナムとはどんな国だろう。

　年配の人にはフランス、米国との戦争に勝って民族解放を遂げたイメージが強いだろう。若い世代にとっては、かわいい雑貨が安く手に入る旅行先かもしれない。最近は原発や新幹線の売り込み先としても耳目を集めている。

But, the Japanese don't know much about Vietnam's political system or its society.
　ところが政治体制や社会のあり方についてはあまり知られていない。

And now in Vietnam, the Communist Party that single-handedly rules the country has held its party congress, which takes place once every five years, and selected as its new general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong. This is the first change of party leader in 10 years.
　そのベトナムで一党独裁を続ける共産党が５年に一度の大会を開き、グエン・フー・チョン氏を新書記長に選んだ。１０年ぶりの最高指導者交代だ。

In the 10-year plan adopted by the congress, the leaders intend to carry on the annual 7-8 percent average economic growth, and become an industrialized country by 2020 by nearly tripling the GDP per capita to $3,000 (249,000 yen).
　大会で承認された１０カ年計画では、今後も年平均７～８％の経済成長を続け、２０２０年には１人当たりの国内総生産を現在の３倍近い３千ドルにして工業国入りをめざすという。

An ambitious goal, but the economic environment changing.
　意欲的な目標だが、足元の経済環境は最近、変調を来している。

Vietnam's currency is losing value, inflation is on the rise, fiscal and trade deficits are increasing. The national shipbuilding company is in a management crisis, and investors are losing trust.
　通貨安とインフレが進み、財政と貿易の赤字が膨らむ。国営造船会社の経営危機が投資家の不信を招いている。

It has been a quarter of a century since the country began its "doi moi" policies of creating a market economy. Despite great progress economically, the income disparity is growing larger. The people are disgruntled by corruption that permeates the government.
　市場経済化を中心に据えたドイモイ政策を始めてから四半世紀。経済を大きく発展させた半面、貧富の差は拡大する一方だ。政権に染みついた汚職体質に国民の不満は高まっている。

For the new administration, its immediate task is to purge itself of this corruption, ease the disparity and manage economic policies.
　新執行部にとっては、経済政策のかじ取りとともに、腐敗の根絶や格差是正が喫緊の課題だ。

In contrast to economic growth, progress in political-social reform, in things like democratization and human rights protection, tend to be extremely slow. It seems that within the party, there was much debate about the latest shuffling. Almost nothing of what was actually said has been made public, and a review is impossible.
　経済成長に比べ、民主化や人権保障といった政治・社会改革の歩みはきわめて遅い。党内では、今回の人事をめぐって様々な論争があったようだが、議論の中身はほとんど公開されておらず、検証するすべはない。

There is no end to the incarceration of anti-government activists and repression of religion. According to Reporters without Borders and its ratings of countries and journalistic freedoms, Vietnam ranks 165th among 178 countries and regions.
　反体制活動家の拘束や宗教者への弾圧も絶えない。「国境なき記者団」が発表する報道の自由度のランクでは、１７８カ国・地域中１６５位だ。

Doi moi means renovation. The new administration needs to embark upon an ambitious doi moi in its political and social reform, as well.
　ドイモイとは刷新を意味する。新執行部は、政治や社会改革の面でも大胆なドイモイに踏み出す必要がある。

In that sense, the general election scheduled for May is gaining attention. The right of people to stand for office is limited, so just how many non-Communist Party nominees and nominees without support from party-related organizations manage to gain office is a thing to watch. There were less than 10 percent in the last election.
　その意味で注目されるのは、５月の国会議員選挙だ。立候補に制限があるなかで、共産党員以外の人や党傘下組織の推薦を得ない候補がどの程度当選するか。前回は１割に満たなかった。

For Japan, Vietnam is a promising market and a place for investment. The Kan government seems intent on living or dying by the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement, and Vietnam has already started negotiations with other countries about its entry.
　日本にとって、ベトナムは有望な市場であり投資先だ。菅政権が命運をかける環太平洋パートナーシップ協定への加盟交渉にもすでに入っている。

Japan is also seeking cooperation in national security, with an eye on China's rapid military expansion, and intends to start a joint development project with Vietnam for rare earth minerals.
　軍事力を急拡大させる中国との見合いで安全保障面での協調も模索し、レアアースの共同開発にも踏み出す。

Japan and Vietnam consider each other as "strategic partners for peace and prosperity in Asia."
　日本とベトナムはお互いを「アジアの平和と繁栄のための戦略的なパートナー」と位置づけている。

If so, the Japanese government should also encourage Vietnam in its democratization and political reform efforts.
　とすれば日本政府は、民主化や政治改革をも後押しするべきだろう。

Japan should occasionally point out to Vietnam things that may not necessarily sit well, like human rights issues. That kind of attitude should, in the long run, lead to a better relationship between the two countries, and help create a stable Vietnam.
　人権問題など相手の耳に痛いことでも時には注文をつける。そうした姿勢が長期的には両国関係の発展やベトナムの安定にもつながるはずだ。

小沢氏の姿勢―国会を台なしにするのか

2011/01/24
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 22
小沢氏の姿勢―国会を台なしにするのか
EDITORIAL: Ozawa and the Diet

It now seems former Democratic Party of Japan chief Ichiro Ozawa will, after all, not appear before the Lower House Deliberative Council on Political Ethics to explain his questionable political fund reports. This is very regrettable.
　民主党の小沢一郎元代表の政治資金問題で、小沢氏による衆院政治倫理審査会での説明が実現しない見通しになった。極めて残念な結果である。

Referring to the issue of when he would appear before the council, Ozawa has told the chairman of the panel that he thought his best option was to attend a council meeting "after the enactment of the budget." By dictating the timing of his appearance, Ozawa effectively refused the request.
　小沢氏は出席の時期について「予算成立後を最優先とする」と条件をつけ、事実上、拒否する考えを政倫審会長に伝達した。

In response to Ozawa's action, DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada announced his intention to abandon his plan to have the council vote on asking Ozawa to attend a council meeting.
これを受けて岡田克也幹事長が、出席を求める議決を断念する意向を示した。

Ozawa is soon to be indicted over the falsified political funds reports according to an October decision by a prosecution inquest committee.
　小沢氏はまもなく強制起訴される。

His right to try to clear his name through the courts as a defendant in a criminal case should be protected. So from this point of view, the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" is naturally applied to Ozawa.
一人の刑事被告人として、法廷で潔白を訴える権利が守られるべきなのはいうまでもない。そこでは当然ながら「推定無罪」の原則が適用される。

But we must point out that Ozawa as a politician is acting in a way that is inconsistent with what he has said.
　しかし、政治家小沢氏に対しては言行不一致を指摘しなければならない。

After the prosecution inquest panel decided, for a second time, that Ozawa should be prosecuted, setting the stage for his forced indictment, the DPJ heavyweight said he would comply with any Diet decision concerning his appearance before the ethics council at any time.
　小沢氏は検察審査会の２度目の議決で強制起訴が決まったあと、政倫審出席について「国会の決定にはいつでも従う」と述べていた。

Recently, however, Ozawa has been arguing there is no good reason why he should appear before the panel since the judicial process concerning the case is already under way. But he has also indicated his intention to attend a council meeting sometime during the regular Diet session, according to comprehensive judgment as a politician.
　最近は、「すでに司法手続きに入っている」から出席する合理的理由はないと主張する一方、政治家としての総合判断から通常国会中にはいずれ出席するとしていた。

Already a year has passed since the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office searched Ozawa's office and other locations in connection with the scandal. He has not taken any of the many opportunities to explain himself that came up during the period. And he is still setting conditions for every step.
　東京地検が小沢氏の事務所などを捜索してからすでに１年。国会で説明する機会はいくらでもあったのに果たさず、いまだに条件をつけている。

It is hard not to believe that he is trying to escape the ordeal of being grilled over the scandal in public by playing for more time.
時間を稼ぎ、「逃げ切り」を図る戦術と見なすほかあるまい。

As he has himself stressed, Ozawa played the central role in the creation of the Deliberative Council on Political Ethics in 1985.
　小沢氏自身が強調しているように、政倫審の生みの親は小沢氏である。

Faced with the challenge of how to restore the public's trust in politics, which was shattered by the Lockheed payoff scandal in the mid-1970s, Ozawa, who then headed the Lower House Rules and Administration Committee, took the initiative in developing the code of political ethics and creating the council as a body to enforce the rules.
　ロッキード事件で損なわれた政治への信頼をどう回復するのか。衆院議院運営委員長だった小沢氏が対処にあたり、２６年前に生まれたのが政治倫理綱領であり、その実効を上げるための政倫審だった。

The code says that Diet members, when they are suspected of having acted in a way that betrays political ethics, must make sincere efforts to clarify the facts and their responsibility.
　綱領にはこう記されている。
　「われわれは、政治倫理に反する事実があるとの疑惑をもたれた場合にはみずから真摯（しんし）な態度をもつて疑惑を解明し、その責任を明らかにするよう努めなければならない」

Has Ozawa forgotten this rule? If he maintains his recalcitrant attitude toward the issue and refuses to fulfill his responsibility as a lawmaker to give the public a satisfactory accounting of the flawed reports, his very commitment to the political reform he has advocated for so long will be in serious doubt.
　この言葉を、小沢氏は忘れたのだろうか。小沢氏がかたくなな姿勢を崩さず、政治家としての説明責任を果たさないのなら、小沢氏が唱道してきた政治改革は果たして真摯なものだったのか、原点から疑われることになろう。

Ozawa's latest move is expected to prompt the DPJ leadership to consider steps such as summoning him to the Diet as a sworn witness or urging him to leave the party.
　この事態を受けて、民主党執行部は証人喚問や、離党勧告の検討に入る。

That will be a natural response to his refusal to appear before the ethics council.
小沢氏が政倫審出席を拒否する以上、当然の対応である。

If the ruling party overlooks Ozawa's irresponsible behavior and fails to take action against him, the regular Diet session convening on Monday will again get mired in a futile partisan battle over the issue of money in politics.
　これを見過ごし、何もせずに放置すれば、週明けに召集される通常国会はまたしても「政治とカネ」をめぐる不毛な対立に終始するだろう。

There is a long list of important policy challenges that need to be addressed immediately, including the budget for new fiscal year, integrated tax and social security reform, free trade and the regeneration of Japanese agriculture.
　新年度予算をはじめ社会保障と税の一体改革、自由貿易と農業再生など、重要な政策課題は多い。

Is it acceptable to allow the Ozawa issue to ruin the opportunity for mature and constructive debate on these crucial challenges?
そのための「熟議」の場を台なしにして良いのか。

Both Ozawa and the DPJ leadership should ask themselves this question.
小沢氏と民主党執行部の双方が問われている。

日中ＧＤＰ逆転―共に豊かさを問う時代

2011/01/22
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 21
EDITORIAL: China now No. 2 in GDP
日中ＧＤＰ逆転―共に豊かさを問う時代

Today's China, which has climbed from third to second place in the world's economic standings, in many ways resembles the Japan of four decades ago. A chorus will soon arise, if it has not already, of people in China questioning the meaning of wealth amid this economic leap forward.
　経済力の指標が３位から２位になる中国の姿は、約４０年前の日本と重なる。躍進の中で、豊かさを問い直すうねりも本格化するだろう。

In May 1970, The Asahi Shimbun started publishing a series about the downside of Japan's economic growth, under the title "Down with GNP." At that time, Japan's economy was in the final stage of what was called the Izanagi boom of prolonged expansion, and Expo 70 was running in Osaka.
　「くたばれＧＮＰ」という連載を朝日新聞が始めたのは、１９７０年５月だった。いざなぎ景気の終末期。大阪万博が開かれていた。

Two years earlier, Japan had overtaken West Germany to become the second-largest economy in the free world. "Isn't there any other way to measure the affluence of a society?" asked the first piece in the Asahi series. It went on to highlight the undesirable byproducts of economic growth, such as waste, pollution, overwork and depopulation.
　その２年前に国民総生産（ＧＮＰ）で西ドイツを抜き自由経済圏で２位に躍り出た。浪費、公害、過労、過疎など成長の暗部をえぐった連載の初回には「ほかに社会の豊かさをはかる物差（ものさし）はないのか」とある。

Japan's economic growth, however, would soon lose steam amid the negative effects of the "Nixon shock" and the oil crisis. Osamu Shimomura, an economist who was the chief architect of the government's economic policy aimed at doubling national income during the high growth era, declared, "Now that the economic environment has changed, we have to accept zero growth."
　間もなくニクソン・ショック、石油ショックに見舞われて日本経済は減速。所得倍増論のプランナー下村治氏は「環境が変わった以上、ゼロ成長しかない」と喝破した。

But neither Japan's political leaders nor the public accepted that new reality with such philosophical resignation. The country simply kept on pursuing economic growth even at the costs of sharply rising government debt and soaring land prices. In 1993, Japan switched its leading measure of economic output from gross national product to gross domestic product.
だが、為政者も国民もそこまで達観できず、国債増発や土地の高騰まで甘受しつつ成長にこだわった。その指標は、９３年から国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）になった。

Japan surpassed the former Soviet Union when it became the second-largest economy in the world. But the economic bubbles that formed in the late 1980s eventually collapsed. The government responded to the ensuing downturn with a string of fiscal stimulus packages composed mainly of public works spending. The government has since issued more and more bonds to finance these stimulus packages amid a revenue shortage. As a result, Japan's outstanding government debt is now close to 200 percent of its GDP.
　旧ソ連を抜いて世界第２位になる一方でバブルが崩壊。公共事業に偏った景気対策の連発や税収不足などで国債は増発の一途をたどる。残高は今やＧＤＰの２倍に近い。

Japan's economic growth is too feeble to pull the nation out of deflation. The government has mapped out a new "growth strategy," but no one knows if it will be effective.
　成長力が弱く、デフレから抜けられない。「成長戦略」はできたが、その効果はあいまいだ。

The bigger question is whether government policies should focus more on the quality and security of life than on enlarging the economic pie. There has been little progress toward the fundamental reforms needed in taxation, fiscal responsibility and social security to deal with this question.
経済全体のパイを大きくするだけでなく、生活の質や安心こそ大切ではないか、との問いは膨らむばかり。だが、それに答えるはずの税財政、社会保障の抜本改革は、いっこうに進まない。

Japan's situation has much to teach people in China as they ponder the future course of their country.
　こうした日本の状況は、中国の人々が今後の進路を考える上で大いに参考になるに違いない。

China's per capita GDP is still one-10th that of Japan. But China has reached a stage of economic development where people are starting to demand a higher quality of life. Japan also went through an era when people's calls for more of freedom, justice, environmental protection and security had huge political repercussions, even while new cars sold like hotcakes. China seems bent on ensuring that its economy will keep growing at strong annual rates of 8 percent or higher, partly to ease the political pressure.
　中国のＧＤＰも１人当たりでは日本の１０分の１だが、ここまで来ると生活の「質」への要求が高まる。自動車が飛ぶように売れる半面、自由や公正、環境、安心への要求が政治を揺さぶることは日本で経験済みだ。政治への圧力を和らげるためにも、中国は年８％以上の高度成長を維持しようとしているようである。

China will eventually become an economic superpower. But there is also the danger that China may follow the path of Japan as problems accumulated through rapid economic growth, such as a wider income gap, inefficient investment and pollution, lead to the bursting of bubbles and economic stagnation. That's why pursuing only high economic growth would be risky for China.
　中国はいずれ経済超大国になろう。だが、格差の拡大や非効率な投資、環境汚染など経済のひずみが蓄積され、日本のようなバブル崩壊から停滞に陥る恐れもある。だからこそ、高い成長を追い求めるだけでは危うい。

Beijing should make serious efforts to ensure stability reigns in the lives of people and balanced economic development.
　国民生活の安定を図り、均衡のとれた発展の道を歩むことが必要だ。

Tackling this challenge effectively requires promoting democracy in both the political and economic spheres. China needs to end its current system in which the Communist Party and the government are solely responsible for economic management. Instead, it should opt for allowing business greater independence and individuals and households more freedom of choice.
それには政治と経済の両分野にわたる民主化が避けて通れない。共産党と政府が経済運営の全責任を負う方式を改め、企業の自律や個人と家計の選択の自由を拡大することだ。

What is true affluence? Japan has long struggled to find a satisfactory answer to this question. China will inevitably face the same question in coming years. As it tries to figure out an answer, a maturing China may find a new vision for its relations with Japan and the rest of the world.
　真の豊かさとは何か。日本が答えあぐねてきた問いを、中国もまた自問してゆくのだろう。その先に、成熟へ向かう中国と日本、そして世界の新しい関係が描かれる。

混乱新幹線―人を惑わせぬシステムを

時刻表通りの運行や安全性は、日本のセールスポイントだ。＞＞

これぞ日本のガラパゴス化現象の最たるもの！
世界は時刻表通りの運行なんて求めていない。
日本がパンクチュアルすぎるのにまだ気がついていない。
海外旅行をすればすぐに理解できることだ。
時刻表通りに運行できなくともまったくかまわないのだ。
中国だって日本から一両編成の新幹線を購入して、あとはそれをコピーする。
中国のコピーの技術、世界一です＾＾。
（スラチャイ記）

2011/01/21
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 20
EDITORIAL: Computer management
混乱新幹線―人を惑わせぬシステムを

It is not uncommon for computer beginners to be at a loss thinking a computer broke down when an unfamiliar message pops up on the screen.
　パソコンにまだ不慣れなとき、画面によく知らない表示が出てきて、故障ではないかと焦った経験のある人はいないだろうか。

On Monday morning, all five Shinkansen lines operated by East Japan Railway Co. stopped for more than an hour. Simply put, the cause of the confusion can be likened to the above situation.
　１７日朝、ＪＲ東日本のすべての新幹線が１時間余りストップした原因は、単純化してたとえるなら、それと似たようなものだった。

The trouble occurred on the Computerized Safety, Maintenance and Operation Systems of Shinkansen, commonly known as COSMOS, a centralized computer system that controls the operations of the Tohoku, Joetsu, Yamagata, Akita and Nagano Shinkansen lines.
　トラブルは、東北、上越、山形、秋田、長野の５新幹線の運行を一括管理するシステム「ＣＯＳＭＯＳ（コスモス）」で起きた。

Due to heavy snow, the company needed to change schedules of 24 trains. Seven workers in the general control center entered adjustments on the system one after another. COSMOS was expected to predict adjusted train schedules and automatically indicate necessary steps that need to be taken, such as updating arrival times and assigning platforms at each station.
雪の影響で２４本の列車のダイヤを変えることになり、総合指令室に詰めていた指令員７人が修正を順次入力。コスモスは、その後の運行状況を予測して、駅ごとの到着予定時刻や番線の変更など、必要な手順を自動的に示してくれるはずだった。

However, for purposes of expedience, the number of changes to be displayed on their monitors had been set at no more than 600. Since the required number of changes exceeded the limit, lines on the screen kept flashing on and off. Not understanding why, the workers suspected a system malfunction and stopped all the trains. This is the explanation provided by JR East after looking into the cause for a full day.
　ところが、モニター画面に表示される変更箇所は便宜的に６００件までと設定されていた。その上限を超えたため、画面上の線がついたり消えたりする状態になる。指令員はどうしてそうなったか分からず、システムの不具合を疑って全列車の運行を止めた――。これが、まる１日かかって原因を解明したＪＲ東の説明だ。

Although the system was working properly, the operators had not been informed of the setting. JR East explained that it did not tell the operators because it might distract them while managing the train schedules. This does not sound convincing.
　システムは仕様通りに動いていたのに、操作する人がその仕様を知らされていなかった。ＪＲ東は「ダイヤ管理に集中してもらうためだった」と釈明するが、説得力はあるだろうか。

COSMOS started operations in 1995. Since then, although the number of daily train services grew 40 percent, the way the monitors displayed changes had not reflected the growth. When train services are disrupted because of bad weather, it is questionable that the system design division had been informed of predicted changes in schedules.
　コスモスの運用開始は１９９５年。１日の列車本数はこの間に４割ほども増えたのに、表示の仕組みは対応するものになっていなかった。悪天候で運行が乱れたとき、どの程度ダイヤ変更がありそうか、システム設計部門に伝わっていなかったのではないか。

In the old days, the planning and changing of train schedules was the realm of experienced craftsmanship of railway workers using rulers and pencils. COSMOS was introduced to automate the work, to prevent human errors, and to advance precision and safety. It appears that in the process of shifting from human to mechanical systems, there was an unexpected pitfall.
　かつて鉄道ダイヤの作成・変更といえば、定規と鉛筆を手にした鉄道マンの職人的技術の領域だった。それを自動化して人為ミスを防ぎ、正確さと安全をより追求しようと導入されたのがコスモスだ。人から機械システムへと移行する過程で、思わぬ落とし穴があったともいえる。

Railways are operated by both humans and machines. Communication and sharing of information are indispensable between system designers and train operators as well as their respective organizations.
　だが、鉄道は人と機械の両方で運用されるもの。システム設計者と運行担当者の間で、それぞれの組織の間で、意思疎通や情報共有は欠かせない。そんな教訓が浮かび上がる。

The government is contemplating sales of Shinkansen cars and operating systems to foreign countries as a set. Train services that strictly follow timetables and safety are Japan's selling points. Why not thoroughly re-examine the usability of operating systems at this juncture?
　新幹線の車両と運行体制をセットで海外に売り込もう。政府はそんな戦略を立てている。時刻表通りの運行や安全性は、日本のセールスポイントだ。この際、運行システムの使い勝手をみっちり点検してはどうか。

The problem is not limited to public transportation systems. Take, for example, the operation of such lifelines as nuclear power generation, economic activities such as the use of automatic teller machines and electronic transactions and exchange of information through the Internet.
　交通機関に限らない。原発などライフラインの運行や、現金自動出入機（ＡＴＭ）や電子決済といった経済活動、ネットを通じた情報のやりとり。

Without various computer systems, modern society would come to a halt. Do people have the capacity to use them effectively? Aren't the systems confusing? This is a good opportunity to draw a lesson.
様々なシステムなしで現代社会は動かない。人は使いこなせているか。人を惑わせるシステムになっていないか。他山の石とする機会だろう。

チュニジア政変―強権支配、市民が倒した

チュニジアの政変にはインターネットによる一般市民の結束が大きな働きをしました。
日本でもかくあるべきですね。
（スラチャイ記）

2011/01/19
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 18
EDITORIAL: Regime change in Tunisia
チュニジア政変―強権支配、市民が倒した

After ruling Tunisia for 23 years, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the North African nation last week amid a storm of anti-government protests.
　北アフリカのチュニジアで２３年間、政権を率いていたベンアリ大統領が、政府批判デモの中、国外に脱出した。

But this change of government was not brought about by pro-democracy leaders or representatives of the people. Rather, it was the people's collective anger that drove out his autocratic regime.
　政変と言っても、民主化の指導者がいるわけでも、市民の代表がいるわけでもない。しかし、強権支配に対する民衆の怒りが噴き出した。

The first task of the new regime is to free the nation of authoritarianism and establish democracy. All political parties must join forces to call a general election as soon as possible.
　発足する新政権の第一の任務は、強権支配の清算と、民主主義の実現である。できるだけ早い時期に、すべての政治勢力が力をあわせて総選挙をし、民意を問う必要がある。

Failing to do so will only prolong the turmoil. What Tunisia needs now is a new start reflecting the will of the people. Both the prime minister and the interim president must clearly understand this.
　そうしなければ、事態は収まらないだろう。求められているのは、民意にたった再出発である。緊急事態を引き継いだ首相も暫定大統領も、そのことを明確に認識する必要がある。

Known for the ancient ruins of Carthage on the Mediterranean coast, Tunisia has been seen as a politically stable country in the Middle East, a region riddled with terrorism and conflict.
　チュニジアは地中海を背景にした世界的なカルタゴの遺跡が有名で、紛争やテロがはびこる中東では、政治的にも安定している国と見られてきた。

While the population is predominantly Muslim, polygamy is outlawed and women's participation in society is encouraged under its pro-Western modernization policies.
　イスラム教徒が大半の国でありながら、一夫多妻制を廃止し、女性の社会進出を進めるなど、欧米寄りの近代化政策をとった。

Earlier this month, however, riot police fired at and killed many citizens protesting corruption in high places and the government's failure to address rampant unemployment.
　ところが、１月になって失業対策や政権の腐敗に抗議する市民のデモに警官隊が発砲し、多くの死者がでた。

The people's anger exploded when they saw their country's cloak of moderation come off to expose a brutal police state.
穏健な外面の裏に隠されていた警察国家の顔が、市民の怒りを引き出した。

Even before the latest development, Amnesty International and other human rights groups had repeatedly pointed out human rights violations in the country.
　人権を抑圧してきた実態は、これまでもアムネスティ・インターナショナルなど国際的な人権団体から繰り返し指摘されてきたことだった。

The Constitutional Democratic Rally, the ruling party, kept the parliament under firm control, virtually eliminating opposition.
　議会は大統領の与党が牛耳って、批判勢力は排除されていた。

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, the government passed "counter-terrorism legislation."
With the secret police in its pocket, the government used this legislation to round up opposition politicians, human rights activists and journalists.
秘密警察を操り、とくに２００１年の米同時多発テロの後は「反テロ法」を作って、野党政治家や人権活動家、ジャーナリストらを拘束してきた。

Disparities between urban and rural residents grew. The unemployment rate neared 15 percent. For university graduates, the figure exceeded 20 percent.
　都市と農村の格差は広がり、失業率は１５％に迫った。なかでも大卒者の失業は２０％を超えた。

Despite these hardships for the people, members of the president's family continued to enjoy special privileges and drew criticism for expanding their businesses.
それなのに大統領の一族は優遇され、手広くビジネスをしているという批判が強かった。

The seemingly sudden collapse of the regime was brought about by the people's anger and frustration finally erupting against the oppressive government that continued to deny them democracy as the nation modernized.
　唐突ともいえる政権崩壊は、近代化の裏で民主化を無視し、強引な支配を続けた政府への国民の不満と怒りが燃え上がったものだ。

For Japan and Western nations that supported this regime for many years, there is much to think about.
　チュニジア政変の教訓は、長年、この国の体制を支えてきた欧米、日本にも反省を迫っている。

Since the 1980s, the Japanese government has regularly held meetings of a Japan-Tunisia joint committee to discuss economic cooperation and other matters. As a "friend," couldn't Japan have offered wise advice on human rights issues and democracy?
　日本政府は８０年代から定期的に二国間の合同委員会を開催し、経済協力などを協議してきた。友好国として、人権や民主化について賢い忠告をすることはできなかったのだろうか。

Dictatorial regimes exist all over the world, especially in the Middle East and North Africa.
　強権体制は、中東・北アフリカ諸国に広がり、さらには世界中にある。

Regarding regime change in Tunisia, it is said that massive anti-government momentum was created by citizens who took to the streets and used the Internet to exchange information.
　今回の政変ではデモに参加した市民がインターネットで情報を交換して、大きなうねりが生まれたとされる。

The days of heavy-handed politics of eliminating dissidents and pro-democracy leaders are nearing an end. We have no need for politicians who don't respect the people.
　反政府勢力や指導者を権力で排除して政治を思い通りにできた時代は、終わりが見えてきた。大衆を侮らない政治が求められている。