CONTENTS

STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN DIGNITY
*Government must accept court judgment and make efforts toward total settlement of leprosy problems
*JCP Ichida urges Prime Minister Koizumi to meet leprosy lawsuit plaintiffs and ex-patients
*Leprosy lawsuit plaintiffs call on Prime Minister Koizumi not to appeal

PRIVATIZATION & DEREGULATION
*Privatizing the post office is designed to increase profit opportunities for banks: Akahata editorial, May 22, 2001
*Koizumi considers legislation for further labor market deregulation

REFERENDUM ON MOX FUEL
*We must leave our children and grandchildren beauty of natural environment: JCP assembly member on MOX fuel referendum

SECRET STATE FUNDS
*Finance minister refuses to answer questions about his 3-month old story about state secret funds

CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS
*Yasukuni Shrine visit "as prime minister" is unconstitutional -- Akahata editorial, May 18, 2001
*Peace-seeking religious group adopts appeal opposing adverse revision of Constitution

U.S. FORCES IN OKINAWA
*U.S. Forces helicopters and refueling aircraft again land on Okinawa's islands
*Okinawa's media are critical of governor's U.S. visit
*Don't allow U.S. Forces to freely use civil airports -- Akahata editorial of May 20
*JCP chair discusses ways to rebuild Okinawa's economy without depending on U.S. bases

LOCAL POLITICS
*JCP woman lawmaker elected assembly chair

ECONOMY & TRADE
*White paper on international trade tacitly approves negative effects of globalization

LABOR
*Toshiba workers are asked to quit at 55 if they want to continue to work till 65
*NTT's massive personnel cut plan
*Women workers denounce NTT restructuring plan
*Two workers in Kyoto win court decision stating that their dismissal is invalid
*Calls for elimination of unpaid overtime work are in action

EDUCATION
*Rallies call for academic freedom and university autonomy to be defended

OLYMPICS
*Osaka's development-oriented project gets low marks in IOC -- May 21 Akahata editorial

KOREA
*Korea-related organizations sit together