Lawyers Take Steps To Block Local Spending For Abe's State Funeral
A group led by lawyers has asked auditors at four prefectures to block the use of public funds for the state funeral of former prime minister Abe Shinzo.
The motions were filed in Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Hokkaido prefectures on Friday.
The group opposes the planned state funeral on September 27 for the late prime minister, who was fatally shot during a campaign speech in July.
It says the event is unconstitutional, and calls it an administrative activity that lacks a legal basis.
The group argues it would go against the local autonomy law if the prefectures spend public funds to let the governors and local assembly speakers attend.
Once the motion is formally received, the auditors are due to present their decision within 60 days.
The group has also asked the auditors to prevent the prefectural governments involved from taking any action related to the state funeral before their decision is made.
It says similar petitions are being planned in other prefectures as well.
Lawyer Tani Jiro, who heads the group in Osaka, says opinion is divided over the state funeral, and that he wants the auditors to present their views before the event is held.
Osaka Prefecture says it has not received any guidance about the state funeral from the central government, and that its response remains undecided.