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

2006 FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 14 NEWS

TWO MAJOR CONTRADICTIONS FACING U.S. MILITARY REALIGNMENT
The Defense Facilities Administration Agency has a tough time due to strong local opposition to the plans to strengthen the functions of U.S. bases and a bid-rigging scandal related to the U.S. military realignment plans. [MORE]

KOIZUMI 'REFORM' IS WIDENING SOCIAL GAPS
Contrary to government assertions, the number of regular employees decreased by 3.23 million, while non-regular workers increased by 3.37 million during the five years up to August 2005. [MORE]

LABOR DEREGULATION INCREASES NON-REGULAR EMPLOYMENT
Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Sasaki Kensho demanded that the government drastically change its deregulation policy to end harsh working conditions for non-regular employees. [MORE]

'STRUCTURAL REFORM'
Koizumi 'reform' is widening social gaps -- Akahata editorial, February 9, 2006 (excerpts)
* Cabinet approves 'market test' bill to contract out more public services (February 11 and 14, 2006)

POLITICAL DONATION
* LDP received 411 million yen in donations from companies suspected of bid-rigging (February 8, 2006)

LABOR
* Labor deregulation increases non-regular employment (February 8, 2006)
* Court begins reviewing appeal on Suzuki's discrimination against JCP members (February 10, 2006)
* Public service workers call for privatization bills to be scrapped (February 11, 2006)
* Workers urge Toyota to fulfill its social responsibility (February 12, 2006)
* Asthma patient blames Toyota for emission-caused air pollution (February 12, 2006)
* Small traders band together to block tax increase (February 14, 2006)

HEALTH & LIVING CONDITIONS
* 14,000 people rally against adverse revision of medical system (February 10, 2006)
* Adverse reform bills proposed that can destroy universal medical insurance system (February 11, 2006)
* More than 4.7 million households fail to pay national health insurance premiums (February 14, 2006)

MILITARY
* Iwakuni City to hold first referendum on U.S. military realignment (February 8, 2006)
* Two contradictions in U.S. military realignment and defense-related corruption (February 9, 2006)
* Heavy cordon around SDF base in Tokyo (February 10, 2006)

PREWAR SUPPRESSION
* Court avoids judgment on wartime 'Yokohama Incident' (February 10, 2006)

NATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY
* Rallies held in opposition to 'National Foundation Day' (February 12, 2006)

ABOLITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
* High court orders Hiroshima Pref. to pay full benefits to Hibakusha living abroad (February 9, 2006)
* Make 2006 a turning point for advancing toward nuclear-free world -Gensuikyo adopts the 2006 action plan (February 11-12, 2006)
* 2006 Bikini Day approaching (February 14, 2006)

CHISHIMA ISLANDS
* JCP representative calls for return of Chishima Islands (February 8, 2006)

JCP-SDP
* JCP and SDP to hold talks on joint struggle (February 14, 2006)

ELECTIONS
* 6 JCP candidates returned with most amount of votes (February 14, 2006)

JCP

JCP Vice Chair Ogata holds talks with Cambodian Ambassador (February 8, 2006)