2005 JULY 6 - JULY 12 NEWS

WAR ISN'T THE WAY TO STOP TERRORISTS
Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo emphasized that efforts to eradicate terrorism must rely on the force of law and police based on international law and in defense of human rights. [more]

ONLY THE REMOVAL OF U.S. BASES CAN END U.S. MILITARY CRIMES
The number of crimes that personnel of the U.S. Forces stationed in Japan committed between 1952 and 2004 exceeds 201,000. U.S. military personnel numbering 28,000 in Okinawa and 14,000 in other areas are stationed in Japan. This is the primary cause of frequent U.S. crimes and accidents. [more]

FACE UP TO HISTORY
On July 7, 1937 Japan expanded its attack in northeast China into a full-scale aggression to the whole of China by sending in more than one million troops. The Japanese government must face up to Japan's wartime past and stop justifying the war of aggression. [more]

TERROR ATTACKS
We condemn crime of terror attacks -- Akahata editorial, July 9, 2005 (excerpts)
* War isn't the way to stop terrorists: Shii (July 12, 2005)

G-8 SUMMIT

For international partnership to eradicate poverty and terrorism -- Akahata editorial July 10, 2005

WWII

Face up to history -- Akahata editorial, July 7, 2005
* Japanese peace groups remember Lugouqiao incident and pledge defense of Article 9 (July 9, 2005)
* Former war orphans lose suit for state compensation (July 7, 2005)
* Former Japanese war orphans hold sit-in (July 8, 2005)

CONSTITUTION
* LDP plan calls for self-defense armed forces to be made constitutional (July 8, 2005)

U.S. FORCES
* Okinawans angry with U.S. airman molesting an Okinawan girl (July 7, 2005)

Only the removal of U.S. bases can ensure the end of U.S. military crimes -- Akahata editorial, July 8, 2005
* Peace Committee urges government to take drastic measures to prevent U.S. military crimes (July 12, 2005)
* Okinawa prefectural assembly opposes live-firing drill at U.S. Camp Hansen (July 9, 2005)
* Hiroshima City legislature expresses opposition to plan to enhance U.S. Iwakuni base functions (July 8, 2005)

SELF-DEFENSE FORCES
* Peace organizations protest against SDF war exercise in Hokkaido (July 8, 2005)
* Air SDF carries out first bombing exercises in Guam (July 10, 2005)

DISABLED
* 11,000 disabled criticize government bill (July 6, 2005)

INDUSTRIAL HAZARD
* Serious damage of asbestos on the increase (July 6, 2005)
* 6,000 deaths from asbesto-related skin disease (July 12, 2005)

ELECTIONS
* All 6 JCP candidates returned in Naha's election (July 12, 2005)