2006 MARCH 8 - MARCH 14 NEWS

IWAKUNI RESIDENTS SAY 'NO' TO U.S. FORCES RELOCATION
An overwhelming majority of residents of Iwakuni City in Yamaguchi Prefecture rejected the planned relocation of a U.S. carrier-borne aircraft unit to the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station. [MORE]

BOJ ENDS 'QUANTITATIVE-EASING' POLICY BUT WILL KEEP 'ZERO-INTEREST RATE'
The Bank of Japan monetary policy has robbed the people of interest earnings on savings in order to help large corporations, major banks, and the United States, widening the income gap in Japan. This is what the 'quantitative easing' is really all about. [MORE]

PART-TIMERS, YOUNG WORKERS CALL FOR DECENT JOBS
About 2,500 young and women workers took part in a Zenroren rally held in Tokyo, calling for better working conditions, job security, and a wage increase. [MORE]

U.S. MILITARY REALIGNMENT
* Government rushes to finalize report on USFJ realignment plan without local consent (March 10, 2006)

Iwakuni
* U.S. aircraft relocation strengthens Iwakuni Base function (March 8, 2006)
* Iwakuni residents say 'No' to U.S. forces relocation (March 13, 2006)
* Iwakuni citizens' historic choice (March 13, 2006)
* Government must heed Iwakuni decision: JCP Ichida (March 14, 2006)
* Municipal heads support Iwakuni referendum outcome (March 14, 2006)
* Government disappointed by Iwakuni residents' rejection (March 13, 14, 2006)

Miyazaki
* Miyazaki mayor says 'No' to U.S. military exercises (March 8, 2006)

Zama
* Citizens group petitions to Defense Agency not to strengthen Camp Zama (March 8, 2006)
* 'Don't allow reinforcement of U.S. Camp Zama': 1.900 citizens rally (March 12, 2006)

Hyakuri
* Local assembly opposes U.S. F-15 exercise at SDF base (March 11, 2006)

DIET
Referendum bill
* JCP Kasai opposes discussion that paves the way for constitutional revision (March 8, 2006)

U.S. beef
* U.S. meat packers have repeatedly failed to remove risky parts (March 9, 2006)

'Administrative Reform'
* Bill to reduce the number of government employees submitted to Diet (March 11, 2006)

'Sympathy' budget
* 'Sympathy budget' extension bill passed through Lower House Committee (March 11, 2006)

LABOR
* Court again orders Yodobashi to compensate a temp (March 9, 2006)
* Part-timers call for decent jobs (March 11, 2006)
* JCP in Diet calls for steps to reduce wage gap between full-time and part-time workers (March 14, 2006)

ODA
* Japan's ODA must focus on reducing poverty and hunger (March 10, 2006)

BOJ, TAX
* BOJ ends 'quantitative-easing' policy but will keep 'zero-interest rate' (March 9, 10, 2006)
* 190,000 people in rallies call for no tax increase (March 14, 2006)

WOMEN
* JCP proposes amendments to revision of equal opportunities law (March 9, 2006)
* Calling for peace in Iraq, women march in the Ginza (March 9, 2006)

OLYMPICS
* Tokyo to bid for 2016 Olympics - JCP opposes (March 9, 2006)

NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOLITION
* New Zealand and U.S. unions back international anti-nuclear weapons signature campaign (March 8, 2006)

'CURRENT' COLUMN
Money essential for the right to life -- Akahata 'Current' column, March 11, 2006

JCP
* JCP Kasai meets with Irish counselor (March 8, 2006)
* JCP holds Executive Committee meeting (March 11, 2006)