2003 JULY 16 - JULY 22 NEWS2003 WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST A & H BOMBS
This year's World Conference will take place in a new situation in which a wide range of peace forces representing an overwhelming majority of countries bravely stood against blatant U.S. hegemony in the Iraq war.
601 SDF OFFICIALS COMMITTED SUICIDE IN LAST 10 YEARS
In Japan, 601 personnel of the Self-Defense Forces have committed suicide during the last ten years, supposedly for hierarchy-based bullying in the SDF.
THERE'S NO CONSENSUS ON BILL TO CELEBRATE 'DAY OF SHOWA'
To celebrate the emperor Showa's birthday as the national holiday 'Day of Showa' tramples on the constitutional principles of people's sovereignty, peace, and democracy.
SDF DISPATCH LAW
* Citizens rally calling for SDF dispatch bill to be foiled (July 16)
* Don't enact SDF dispatch law by obscuring WMD issue: Shii (July 17)
* SDF may crack down on protests in Iraq (July 18)
Stop the SDF dispatch bill -- Akahata editorial, July 20 (Excerpts)SELF-DEFENSE FORCES
* Head of Defense Agency wants missile defense shield in Japan (July 16)
* 601 SDF officials committed suicide in last 10 years (July 17)
U.S. FORCES
* Less than 30 percent of U.S. soldier-criminals in Okinawa prosecuted (July 17)
* U.S. forces to return land in Yokohama (July 19)
* Nuclear unit deployed to U.S. Yokota Air Base in 1970s (July 22)
NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOLITION
2003 World Conference against A & H Bombs -- Akahata editorial, July 21ECONOMY
* 8,984 business failures in first six months (July 16)
* JCP Dietmember calls on government to take action to prevent unnecessary deaths (July 17)
* Construction companies donate 200 million yen to LDP (July 22)
CHILD RIGHTS
* Minister Konoike denies children's rights (July 17)
'DAY OF SHOWA'
There's no consensus on bill to celebrate 'Day of Showa' -- Akahata editorial, July 18WAR CRIME
* Producer testified he was pressured by Japanese public broadcaster to gut program on war crimes (July 18)
JCP -On JCP Program-
* Fuwa explains draft revised JCP Program at speech assembly (July 19)
JCP -Elections-
* All eight JCP candidates elected to Muko City Assembly (Kyoto) (July 22)
JCP -International-
* JCP CC Chair Fuwa to visit Tunisia (July 16)
* JCP Ogata meets with Jordan ambassador (July 20)