2004 FEBRUARY 4 - FEBRUARY 10 NEWS

DISPATCHING SDF TO FULFILL A PROMISE TO U.S. IS A CRIME
The Japan-U.S. Security Treaty cannot be used to justify SDF dispatches to foreign countries at war because it is supposed to serve "Japan's defense".

DENTAL ASSOCIATION'S POLITICAL ARM IN CORRUPT RELATIONSHIP WITH RULING PARTY
The JDF in 1998 borrowed money from major banks to give the LDP about 800 million yen in the name of party dues for 220,000 LDP members, Akahata reported.

CITIZEN-JUDGE SYSTEM WILL BE EFFECTIVE IF IT REFLECTS PEOPLE'S GOOD SENSE
Akahata's editorial said citizen participation is very significant and the need now is to develop a system that gives citizen-judges a substantive role to play.

Dispatching SDF to fulfill a promise to the United States is tantamount to committing a major crime -- Akahata editorial, February 4
* LDP and Komei in Upper House use their majority to get SDF dispatch to Iraq approved
* Defense agency chief admits existence of Iraq-related internal document
* DA tells arms company to keep mouth shut concerning its engineers going to Iraq

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IRAQ
Iraq war
* Koizumi's continued support for Iraq War is extraordinary

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IRAQ
Koizumi remarks under fire
* Koizumi's de facto rejection of a student's petition angers the public
* E-mails keep arriving in support of a high school student's peace action
People are not prime minister's subordinates -- Akahata editorial, February 7

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IRAQ
Anti-war campaign
* 10,000 people holding 'lights of peace' converge on Defense Agency
* P.E.N. Club assembles to protest against SDF dispatch
* Anti-dispatch movement warms up in Hokkaido

COURT
Citizen-judge system will be effective if it reflects people's good sense -- Akahata editorial, February 5