2019年8月3日、「あいちトリエンナーレ2019」における企画展「表現の不自由展・その後」展が、脅迫行為により開催中止となりました。このような脅迫行為が「表現の自由」「国民の知る権利」を脅かす由々しき行為であることは言うまでもありませんが、今回の「表現の不自由展・その後」展については、同展中止に先立つ8月2日には河村たかし名古屋市長が展示内容を批判し、菅義偉官房長官が補助金の交付決定の見直しに言及するなど、政治家による批判的言及が相次ぎました。そして9月26日には文化庁が「あいちトリエンナーレ」への補助金交付取り消しを決定しました。
これらの一連の動きは、個人の思想・信条の自由な表現である芸術表現に対し、公人としての政治家及び国家組織がそれを抑圧するものであり、日本国憲法第二十一条に記された「集会、結社及び言論、出版その他一切の表現の自由は、これを保障する」、同条２「検閲は、これをしてはならない」という条文に違反する惧れのあるものです。
これまでも自治体首長の歴史観・価値観によって平和博物館が展示の変更を迫られた事実があります。「戦争の被害と加害の両面に目を向け、過去と誠実に向き合う」ことを基本姿勢とする立命館大学国際平和ミュージアムとしては、このような一連の動きが個人の思想・信条の自由な表現としての芸術表現・展示表現を抑制する検閲の効果を及ぼす可能性を危惧し、文化庁の決定に対して遺憾の意を表明するとともに、「あいちトリエンナーレ」への補助金交付取り消しのすみやかな撤回を求めます。
立命館大学国際平和ミュージアム
館長 吾郷眞一
名誉館長 安斎育郎
October 14, 2019
Statement by the Director and the Honorary Director of the Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University, on the discontinuation of the Aichi Triennale “Lack-of-Freedom-of-Expression Exhibit: Part II” and the decision of the Agency for Cultural Affairs not to grant subsidies
On August 3, 2019, the exhibition “Lack-of-Freedom-of-Expression Exhibit: Part II” at Aichi Triennale 2019" was canceled due to intimidation by some individuals. It goes without saying that such intimidation is a big threat to the “freedom of expression" and the people’s "right to know". What is more worrying is that on August 2, Nagoya Mayor Kawamura Takashi criticized the contents of the exhibition, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide alluded to a review of the governmental subsidy, and there were a series of critical references made by politicians. In the end, on September 26, the Agency for Cultural Affairs decided to cancel the grant to Aichi Triennale.
These series of events, initiated by politicians and national organizations as public figures, are intended to suppress the free expression of individuals’ thoughts and beliefs. They may infringe the "freedom of expression of assembly, association, speech, publication, and any other expression" as provided for under Article 21 of the Constitution of Japan, as well as paragraph 2 of the same Article, on the prohibition of censorship.
Bearing in mind that some Peace Museums had been forced, in the past, to change their exhibits, following pressures exercised by certain heads of local governments based on their particular historical views and values, we, the Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University, which is established on the fundamental idea of "facing the past with integrity, looking at both the victims and the perpetrators of the war," hereby express our deep concern that such a series of events may have the effect of censorship that suppresses artistic expression and exhibition and consequently the freedom of expression and thoughts.
With this letter, we express our dismay over the decision of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and petition the prompt withdrawal of the cancellation of the grant to the Aichi Triennale.
Ago Shin-ichi, Director, and Anzai Ikuro, Honorary Director
Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University