 2005 MAY 18- MAY 24 NEWS JCP IS READY TO HELP REMOVE STUMBLING BLOCKS TO JAPAN-NORTH KOREA NORMALIZATION JCP Central Committee Chair Fuwa Tetsuzo has proposed six points to break the deadlock over the normalization of Japan-North Korea relations: (1) Both countries must hold fast to ther Pyongyang Declaration and give full play to its vigor (2) North Korea's initial decision in dealing with the abduction can lead to friendship if related issues are dealt with in earnest (3) Progress in the abduction issue is only possible by resolving the question of North Korea's 'special unit' (4) Both countries should refrain from threatening to close the talks, resorting to 'policy of srength' or any other actions that run counter to the Pyongyang Declaration (5) The best security is guaranteed by the nuclear-free Korean Peninsula accord reached in the Six-Party Talks (6) We are ready to do all we can to help break the present stalemate JAPAN-NORTH KOREA * JCP CC Chair Fuwa proposes steps to remove stumbling blocks to normalization of Japan-North Korea relations (May 25, 2005) DIET Nursing care insurance * Proposed change in nursing care insurance system will force users to pay more than they receive in pension benefits (May 20, 2005) Postal services bill * Postal services bill is harmful: JCP Shii (May 20, 2005) * JCP chair calls for thorough parliamentary discussion to discard postal privatization bill (May 21, 2005) People going to Diet * 10,000 people take to Diet wishes to defend the Constitution and living standards (May 21, 2005) U.S. nuclear strategy * JCP Ogata urges government to request the U.S. to cancel its dangerous nuclear policy (May 21, 2005) BSE * BSE-testing on all cows secures beef safety: experts (May 21, 2005) U.S. FORCES * New Japan-U.S. agreement on access to U.S. forces' accident sites (May 19, 2005) * U.S. NLP at Atsugi continues in spite of protests (May 19, 2005) ENVIRONMENT * Only 1% of offices disclose greenhouse gas emissions (May 20, 2005) ECONOMY * Economic stagnation persistently felt despite favorable indices (May 18, 2005) CRIMES * Eight major corporations raided over biggest ever bid-rigging for bridges (May 24, 2005) WW II * Asian lawmakers and victims of Japan's war of aggression rally in Tokyo (May 21&23, 2005) RAILWAY SAFETY * JR West derailment and 18 years of 'profit-first policy' after privatization of JNR (Sunday Edition, May 15, 2005) * Railway workers discuss ways to ensure safety (May 19, 2005) * JR West train drivers are spied on by plain-clothed superiors (May 20, 2005) HUMAN/CIVIL RIGHTS * Trial starts on suppression of JCP flyers distribution ( May 23, 2005) * Meeting held to support former leprosy patients in South Korea and Taiwan (May 24, 2005) ELECTION  Change politics so that residents' needs will be met -- Akahata editorial, May 24, 2005 JCP* Fuwa gives lecture to 600 college students in Kyoto (May 22, 2005) |