2004 JANUARY 7 - JANUARY 13 NEWS

JCP 23rd CONGRESS OPENS
Calling for opposition to the sending of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq, and also with a major aim of revising the Party Program, the Japanese Communist Party convened the 23rd Congress on January 13.

DEFENSE AGENCY CHIEF ORDERS DISPATCHING GSDF TO IRAQ
The dispatch order is an expression of Japan's commitment to sending heavily armed forces to overseas combat zones, the first such move Japan has made since the end of World War II.

PRIME MINISTER VISITS YASUKUNI TO PRAISE DEATH IN WAR OF AGGRESSION
We must point out that the prime minister is using his Yasukuni visit as a bridgehead for war related deaths.

WAR SHRINE
Prime minister's Yasukuni visit is tantamount to praising death in war of aggression -- Akahata editorial, January 6

DPJ
Like-minded parties -- Akahata "Current" column, January 8
* DPJ lawmaker has maintained close relationship with rightists (January 12)