2005 MARCH 2 - MARCH 8 NEWS

CONSUMERS CALL FOR STRICTER MEASURES ON BSE
Japanese consumers are strongly opposed to the attempt to resume importing U.S. beef on the grounds that its safety has not yet been confirmed.

PART-TIMERS STAGE DEMONSTRATION FOR WAGE INCREASE
More than 6,000 workers, mainly part-time women and young employees, braved the cold weather after a snowfall to march through the Ginza, calling for a wage increase for all workers.

JCP ESTABLISHES RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL'S WORKERS' PARTY
JCP International Bureau Director Ogata Yasuo held talks with a Brazilian Workers' Party (PT) representative.

BUDGET
* FY 2005 draft budget passes through House of Representatives (March 3, 2005)

POSTAL PRIVATIZATION
* Government must first answer the question why postal privatization is necessary (March 7, 2005)

PENSION & TAX
* Government plan gives the wealthy tax breaks while forcing working people to pay more (March 5, 2005)
* Pensioners' protests at government agency over pension cuts increase (March 7, 2005)

U.S. FORCES
* Anti-new U.S. base plaintiffs argue case in court (March 2, 2005)
* Peace Committee demands a ban on U.S. Marines' return to Okinawa (March 5, 2005)
* U.S. Marine artillery unit to move to SDF training field in Hokkaido (March 8, 2005)
* Declassified memo shows Japan has OK'd U.S. forces' use of SDF training ground up to 270 days a year (March 8, 2005)

WAR CRIME
* International Criminal Tribunal for Iraq (ICTI) convicts Bush and Koizumi (March 7, 2005)

HUMAN RIGHTS
* Roadmap to be made to prevent bias against leprosy patients (March 2, 2005)
* Government ordered to pay pension to disabled citizens (March 5, 2005)

BSE
* U.S. pressures Japan to resume beef imports (March 3, 2005)
* Food safety-conscious consumers call for stricter measures on BSE (March 3, 2005)

CORPORATE FRAUD
* Take preventive measures: JCP on arrest of former Seibu group chair (March 4, 2005)

EDUCATION
Lawlessness that will destroy education -- Akahata editorial, March 8, 2005 (excerpts)
* Zengaguren convention: Stop university tuition increase (March 8, 2005)

TOKYO
* JCP demands that Tokyo governor apologize for insulting women (March 3, 2005)
* Events held commemorating 60th anniversary of Tokyo air raid (March 7, 2005)

LABOR
* Woman employee reinstated to position in foreign-owned company after 12 years of court struggle (March 2, 2005)
* Part-timers stage demonstration for wage increase (March 5, 2005)
* Employee's suicide recognized as work-related (March 4, 2005)
* Metal industry workers hold rallies for higher wages (March 8, 2005)

ELECTION
* All JCP candidates elected to city assembly following municipality merger in Nagasaki (March 4, 2005)

JCP
* JCP establishes relations with Brazilian Workers' Party (March 1, 2005)
* JCP Ogata holds talks with Venezuelan parties (March 2, 2005)
* UNHCR appreciates JCP's monetary contribution to tsunami relief victims (March 5, 2005)

HOME