2003 MAY 14 - MAY 20 NEWS

CONTINGENCY BILLS MUST BE THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED AND SCRAPPED
The bills that pave the way for the Self-Defense Forces to take part in war actions with the U.S. forces were sent to the Upper House after they passed in the Lower House on May 16. more

U.S. WARSHIP GIVES UP ENTERING A CIVIL PORT IN HOKKAIDO
No authority can force through an entry of warships into a civil port in defiance of local residents' wishes for a peaceful port, says a peace activist in Otaru City. more

MORE REGULAR WORKERS WILL BE REPLACED BY TEMPS IF LAW IS ADVERSELY REVISED
In a Tokyo survey on temporary staffing taken this spring, 73 percent of surveyed corporations answered that they are using more temporary workers and less regular employees. more


WARTIME LEGISLATION
* Democratic Party and ruling parties agree on amending contingency bills (May 14)
* Lawyers and workers press parliament to abandon contingency legislation (May 14)
* Japan's airlines may be mobilized in U.S. war cooperation (May 14)
* JCP chair protest committee vote on contingency bills (May 15)
* 5,000 people rally calling for contingency bills to be foiled (May 15)
* Stop wartime bills in Upper House (May 16)
* Other parties express opinions on contingency bills (May 16)
* Letter from 30 South Korean lawmakers on wartime bills (May 16)
* Broadcasters express concern about possible government intervention (May 17)
LDP secretary general's obsession - Akahata 'Current' column, May 17
* Contingency bills must be thoroughly discussed and scrapped: JCP Ichida (May 20)

OKINAWA
* Symposium held in Okinawa on military alliance, military bases, and Japan's diplomacy (May 19)

U.S. FORCES
* Court orders government to compensate plaintiffs for U.S. Yokota Base noise pollution (May 15)
* New mayor of Ginowan City demands the U.S. base be withdrawn (May 15)
* U.S. warship gives up entering a civil port in Hokkaido (May 16)

SDF
* SDF officials embezzle tax money (May 20)

NUCLEAR WEAPONS
* Gensuikyo urges U.S. to work to eliminate nuclear weapons (May 8)
* Hiroshima and Nagasaki mayors express solidarity with anti-nuclear peace march (May 20)
* Hibakusha's legal action to press government to recognize their diseases as caused by A-bombing (May 6)

LABOR
* More regular workers will be replaced by temps if law is adversely revised (May 17)
* Court: textile company's discrimination against JCP members is illegal (May 15)

ECONOMY
* Public funds for bank get mixed reaction from political parties (May 19)

RESIDENTS VS. GOVERNMENT
* High court supports farmers' claim to stop unnecessary dam-related public works project (May 17)
* Government decides not to appeal against decision supporting residents' demand (May 20)

ELECTION
* Former progressive governor Ota puts up good fight (May 19)
* All 11 JCP candidates elected to Adachi Ward Assembly (May 19)

Copyright (c) Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. All right reserved.