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

JCP demands special interests be excluded from government panel on structural reform

Japanese Communist Party representative Shiokawa Tetsuya criticized the government for appointing shareholders of a company that plans to begin business in a "structural reform special medical zone" as members of the government council on regulatory reform.

At a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on February 23, Shiokawa revealed that a number of companies that are shareholders of the major medical technology and service provider Biomaster Inc. are on the working group promoting the deregulation of medical services.

He said the government should end such conflict-of-interest appointments.

Chuma Koki, the state minister in charge of structural reform special zones dismissed Shiokawa's concern that the government panel will be influenced by particular corporate interests.
- Akahata, February 24, 2006