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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

2006 JANUARY 18 - JANUARY 24 NEWS

SHII STRESSES JCP ROLE AS GUARDIAN OF PEOPLE'S LIVING CONDITIONS
At the start of the 164th Ordinary Session of the Diet, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo stated that the JCP role is to defend the people's living conditions against the Koizumi "structural reform" policy that shifts heavier burdens onto the public. [more]

JCP CALLS ON SDP FOR COMMON STRUGGLE AGAINST CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo proposed holding bilateral talks with the Social Democratic Party on their joint struggle against the constitutional revision and an effort to rally a majority to this struggle. [more]

FORMER JCP CHAIR FUWA REVIEWS 36 YEARS OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN JAPAN
Fuwa Tetsuzo retired from the post of JCP Central Committee chair at the JCP 24th Congress. He said,"We are now witnessing the confrontation between the forces of reaction determined to maintain the status quo and the forces that are determined to achieve social progress in the future." [more]

POLITICS
Diet
* Shii stresses JCP's role as guardian of people's living conditions (January 21, 2006)
* Koizumi in policy speech calls for major tax increase and constitutional revision (January 21, 200)

LDP convention
* LDP convention decides to accelerate Koizumi's 'reform' agenda (January 19, 2006)

Political funds
* Total amount of government subsidies to political parties remain unchanged despite shrinking population and increasing people's hardships (January 19, 2006)

CONSTITUTION
* Citizens in rally call for defense of Constitution and Education Law (January 22, 2006)
* JCP calls on SDP for joint struggle against constitutional revision (January 24, 2006)

SCANDALS
Falsified construction data
* Faulty apartment seller admits his contact with Abe's secretary (January 18, 2006)

Stock market

Livedoor's illegal moneymaking needs probe -- Akahata editorial (excerpts), January 18, 2006
* Livedoor president arrested (January 24, 2006)

BSE
U.S. beef imports
*Japan reimposes U.S. beef import ban after discovering high-risk material (January 21, 2006)

No U.S. beef imports before making sure that it's safe -- Akahata editorial, January 22, 2006

WIDENING GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR

Widening disparities can't be concealed -- Akahata editorial (excerpts), January 24, 2006

U.S. FORCES
F-15 crash
* U.S. F-15 crashes into sea off Okinawa (January 18, 2006)
* Okinawan local assemblies call for withdrawal of U.S. F-15 units (January 19, 2006)
* U.S. F-15 fighter units resume training (January 20, 2006)
* Naha City Assembly resolves for suspension of F-15 flights (January 23, 2006)
* City Assembly protests about U.S. forces barring JCP representative from entering military base (January 24, 2006)

U.S. military crimes
*Drunken U.S. sailor trespasses on junior high school (January 19, 2006)

Relocation

Japan-U.S. defense ministers disregard public concerns -- Akahata editorial (gist), January 20, 2006
* Local heads and residents jointly call for U.S. military relocation plan to be canceled (January 19, 2006)
* People protest against live-shell drill at Hijudai exercise field (January 23, 2006)
* In mayoral election, Nago citizens oppose new U.S. base in shallow waters (January 24, 2006)

LABOR
* Unions in 2006 Spring Struggle to demand a pay raise for all workers (January 18, 2006)
* Workers in Spring Struggle converge on the headquarters of the business sector (January 20, 2006)

NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOLITION
* World's peace movements are responding to call 'For swift abolition of nuclear weapons' (January 20 & 21, 2006)

JCP
* JCP Vice Chair Ogata meets with Pakistani Senate's Foreign Relations Committee chair (January 19, 2006)
* Former Central Committee Chair Fuwa Tetsuzo's Remarks at JCP 24th Congress (January 14, 2006)