2004 DECEMBER 15 - DECEMBER 21 NEWS

JCP CRITICIZES NORTH KOREAN ACCUSATION
JCP Chair Shii says North Korean accusation of the investigation of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea as being tantamount to demanding that Japan recognize without condition anything they have presented as authentic.

BUSINESS LEADERS WANT MORE WAGE CUTS
The Japan Business Federation in its policy paper calls for the present system of automatic annual pay raises to be abolished, with more deregulation to increase corporate profits.

LET'S CAUSE A GROUNDSWELL OF CALLS FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOLITION
'We must deal a blow to nuclear powers by making real the call for abolishing nuclear weapons,' says Takakusagi Hiroshi, secretary general of the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo)


NORTH KOREA
* JCP Ogata urges government to negotiate in earnest with North Korea (December 15)
* JCP criticizes North Korean accusation (December 16)
* Shii answers reporters' questions on abduction issue (December 16)


NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOLITION
* Let us cause a groundswell of calls for nuclear weapons abolition on the 60th anniversary of the A bombings
* Call for nuclear weapons abolition responded by many countries


WARTIME COOPERATION
* Government urges municipalities and public entities to build structure for war cooperation (December 15)


FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE
* Activists who distributed anti-SDF dispatch flier found not guilty (December 17)


U.S. FORCES
* Okinawan college holds concert calling for an end to U.S. military aircraft flights (December 20)
* Local governments oppose U.S. military relocation (December 21)


TAX, SOCIAL SERVICES
* Government plans to force disabled to pay more for nursing care (December 15)
* Ruling parties agree on shifting heavier tax burden on people (December 16)
* Ishihara is Tokyo's first governor to cut social services in decades (December 17)
* Elderly people call for no welfare cuts (December 20)


FY 2005 BUDGET
* JCP criticizes FY 2005 draft budget for increased tax burden on people (December 21)
* Don't cut budget in support of daily living conditions (December 21)


LABOR
* Business leaders want more wage cuts (December 15)
* Workers call on government to act for job creation (December 17)
* Union membership in Japan continues to decline (December 20)
Reneging on the promise of shorter working hours -- Akahata editorial, December 19 (Excerpts)
* General workers union activists discuss next year's spring offensive (December 21)


EDUCATION
Rise in tuition will deprive students of a chance to go to university -- Akahata editorial, December 17 (abridged)
* Ultra nationalist appointed as board of education member (December 21)




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