１等空佐免職

(Oct. 3, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun
News media has duty to let the public know
１等空佐免職　知る権利に応える報道の使命（10月3日付・読売社説）

In a disciplinary action, the Defense Ministry on Thursday dismissed an Air Self-Defense Force colonel who belonged to the ministry's Defense Intelligence Headquarters.
　防衛省が、情報本部所属の１等空佐を懲戒免職処分とした。

It is the duty of news media to provide information that should be made public, and the punishment the colonel received could impede the freedom of news-gathering activities and reporting.
　報道機関には、国民に知らせるべき情報を伝える使命がある。そうした取材・報道の自由を妨げかねない処分である。

In March, the SDF's criminal investigative unit sent papers on the colonel on suspicion of leaking "defense secrets" to a Yomiuri Shimbun reporter concerning a Chinese submarine, an apparent violation of the Self-Defense Forces Law.
　１等空佐は中国潜水艦の動向に関する「防衛秘密」を読売新聞記者に漏らしたとして、自衛隊法違反（秘密漏洩(ろうえい)）容疑で自衛隊の警務隊から書類送検されていた。

It is unusual for disciplinary action to be taken before the public prosecutors office's investigation has reached its conclusion. The ministry explained that faith in the ability of the ministry and the SDF to keep material confidential was seriously damaged by the incident. It also said it took into consideration the impact of the incident at home and abroad.
　検察庁の捜査の結論が出る前の処分は異例だ。防衛省・自衛隊の秘密保全に対する信頼を著しく損ね、内外に及ぼした影響などを総合的に勘案した、という。

Were they 'defense secrets'?

In its morning edition on May 31, 2005, The Yomiuri Shimbun carried an article that a Chinese Navy submarine in the South China Sea had been crippled by what was believed to have been an onboard fire while it was traveling underwater and was being towed.
　読売新聞は２００５年５月、中国海軍の潜水艦が南シナ海で潜航中に火災とみられる事故を起こして航行不能となり、曳航(えいこう)されている、という記事を掲載した。

Without question, important defense information concerning national security must be kept strictly confidential. However, could the content of the Yomiuri report really be considered "defense secrets"?
　安全保障に関する防衛上の重要情報は無論、厳格に管理されねばならない。だが、報道内容は本当に「防衛秘密」にあたるのか。

The article reported an unusual incident that took place in waters around Japan. Because the surfaced submarine was being towed, there was a possibility that it could be discovered by other vessels in the area. Experts pointed out that the content of the report would not endanger Japanese or U.S. national security.
　記事は、日本の周辺海域で起きた異変を伝えたものだ。潜水艦は浮上して曳航されており、いずれは周囲の船舶に発見される可能性もあったろう。専門家も、日米の安全保障を脅威にさらすような内容ではない、と指摘している。

Information about the submarine's accident was given to the SDF by U.S. forces. In a previous case, classified SDF information provided by U.S. forces about an Aegis-equipped destroyer was leaked. Some observers consider that, in the latest case, the ministry needed to set an example to show the United States that it could guarantee confidentiality in intelligence in an effort to ensure bilateral cooperation.
　潜水艦の事故情報は、米軍からもたらされた。自衛隊では、米軍から提供されたイージス艦情報の流出事件もあった。日米の情報協力を進めるうえで、米国に配慮し、秘密保持の強い姿勢を示す必要があったとの見方もある。

Reporter did right thing

The punishment the colonel received may serve to discourage public servants involved in government decision-making or in the handling of important data from releasing information, thereby inhibiting the media's reporting role, which is to satisfy the public's right to know.
　“見せしめ”的な処分は、国の政策決定や重要情報にかかわった公務員を萎縮(いしゅく)させ、国民の知る権利に応える報道の役割を制約するおそれがある。

Which is more significant, the public interest or a potential adverse impact on the national interest because of reporting? Weighing such a question has to be carefully examined when it comes to issues related to national security and diplomacy. Information considered important for the public to know must be disclosed, as long as it does not damage national interests.
　報道による国民の利益と国家の不利益と、どちらが大きいか。安全保障や外交に絡む問題は、そのバランスを慎重に見極めねばならない。そのうえで、国益を損なわなければ、国民に必要な情報は積極的に公表すべきだ。

The public's understanding of the SDF can only be deepened this way.
　それでこそ、自衛隊の活動に対する国民の理解も深まる。

When the Foreign Ministry's classified information regarding the 1972 reversion of Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty was leaked, the Supreme Court in 1978 judged that news-gathering methods of acquiring information could be considered a legitimate business practice, as long as it is done for purely news-reporting purposes and is deemed appropriate under normal social conventions that are in the spirit of the law.
　沖縄返還をめぐる外務省機密漏洩事件で、最高裁は１９７８年、「正当な業務」と認められる取材手法について、「真に報道目的で、法秩序全体の精神に照らして相当だと社会通念上認められるもの」との判断を示した。

The Yomiuri Shimbun considers our news-gathering was appropriate in this instance.
　読売新聞では、取材が適正だったことを確かめている。

We would like to affirm once again the principle that we report information that the public should know while also maintaining the confidentiality of news sources.
　いかなる場合も取材源を秘匿しつつ、国民に伝えなければならない情報は的確に報じる。その原則を改めて確認しておきたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 3, 2008)
（2008年10月3日01時51分  読売新聞）