Science Council of Japan, led by Takaaki Kajita, speaks to the reporter about Suga's rejection. (Image via Mainichi)

Science Council of Japan asks Suga to retract rejection

Science Council of Japan, the government think-tank that makes the policy recommendation to the Japanese government, submitted a letter addressed to the new Prime Minister (PM) of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, on Saturday asking him to explain why he refused to appoint six of the body's recommended nominees as new members. Of 105 academics nominated by the body, Suga refused six people critical of Japan's security and anti-conspiracy legislation and refused to state the reason.

Since 2004, PM holds the authority to appoint the recommended members of the Science Council of Japan, operating under the jurisdiction of the premier but independently from the state. The council itself replaces half of its members triennially. With the current system of appointments, no candidates had ever been rejected. Established in 1949, the Science Council of Japan, consisting of about 210 members and 2,000 associates, serves to promote and enhance science in Japanese society, from the government to its people.

Led by the 2015 Nobel Prize winner in Physics and took the President chair just Thursday, Takaaki Kajita called for Suga to immediately revise his decision and either clarify his reason for the overturn or just appoint the remaining six nominees.

Previously, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Katsunobu Kato, stated during a press conference that the PM does not have obligation to appoint every recommended people to the council, but based on its own assessment. Moreover, Suga is unlikely to change his mind about the rejection of the six nominees. However, the council said that Suga's outrageous move was unlawful in the view of the law on the Science Council of Japan.

Source: https://bit.ly/36Cozge