2004 SEPTEMBER 22 - SEPTEMBER 28 NEWS

JAPAN'S BECOMING PERMANENT UNSC MEMBER CONFLICTS WITH ARTICLE 9
The Japanese Communist Party opposes the government moves to use the issue of Japan's permanent UNSC seat as a lever to make Japan into a military power.

U.S. INSISTS ON MAINTAINING ITS FORCES IN JAPAN
U.S. military bases in Japan have been the strongholds of U.S. strike forces, and the recent realignment plan intends to provide U.S. forces in Japan with the command capability for global war.

HOME HELPERS ARE WORKERS
The Labor Ministry has issued a circular advising the prefectural labor bureaus to instruct private home help service providers to recognize their staff members as workers.

ARTICLE 9
Japan at UN
* Japan's becoming a permanent UNSC member with military role conflicts with Article 9: Shii (September 24)

Mr. Koizumi, that's not the way to make an honored international contribution -- Akahata editorial, September 23

ARTICLE 9
Defend Article 9
* Kyoto monks set up an Article 9 project (September 22)
* 2,000 attend lecture by Article 9 Committee (September 27)

IRAQ
* Shii criticizes government plan to continue to deploy SDF in Iraq (September 24)

U.S. FORCES
* JCP criticizes Yokohama mayor's acceptance of U.S. military housing construction plan (September 24)

U.S. insists on maintaining its forces in Japan -- Akahata editorial, September 25
* Japan-U.S. Security Treaty issues discussed in symposium (September 25)

OKINAWA
* Ginowan residents request government efforts to remove Futenma base (September 22)
* Ginowan mayor urges U.S. forces to go, if they want to reduce danger (September 24)

POLITICS
Cabinet reshuffle
* Reshuffle prepares cabinet for constitutional revision: Shii (September 28)
* A cabinet lineup focusing on adverse revision of the Constitution (September 28)

POLITICS
Corruption
* Business circle gives LDP no 'A-ratings' in 'report card' (September 25)
* Hashimoto's aide Muraoka indicted over covert 100 million yen dental donation (September 27)

LABOR
* Young workers call for major campaign to defend jobs and Constitution (September 22)
* Labor ministry says home helpers should be treated as workers (September 27)
* 1,184 firms paid more than 190,000 workers about 24 billion yen in back pay (September 28)

JCP
* JCP chair receives new Vietnamese ambassador (September 24)

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