2008 FEBRUARY 27

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

2008 FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 4

JCP chair’s questioning sends shudders through Canon management
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo at a House of Representatives committee meeting called for Canon President Mitarai Fujio to be summoned over the company’s inappropriate practice of replacing full-time employees with temporary workers.

Don’t hinder efforts to ban cluster bomb!
The Japanese government’s counterproposal is obviously running counter to the international efforts to achieve a total ban on cluster munitions as well as establishing a treaty to achieve this.

Young people renew determination to increase efforts to get nuclear weapons abolished
A number of events took place in Yaizu City in Shizuoka Prefecture, on March 1 to mark the 54th anniversary of the U.S. hydrogen bomb test explosion at Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific.

BUDGET
- Ruling bloc rams through FY 2008 budget in Lower House

CLUSTER BOMB
- Don’t hinder efforts to ban cluster bomb! -Akahata editorial (excerpts)

GLOBAL WARMING
- JCP study team goes to Europe to study policies combating global warming

MILITARY-FIRST ARROGANCE
- Chiba legislature adopts resolution calling for thorough investigation into Aegis destroyer collision
- Shii calls for Defense Ministry’s military-first, ‘hush-hush’ attitude to be questioned

BIKINI DAY
- Bikini Day conference participants pledge greater efforts to achieve a nuclear-free world
- Gensuikyo calls for global campaign in preparation for 2010 NPT review conference

U.S. FORCES

Iwakuni
- JCP criticizes new Iwakuni mayor for accepting deployment of U.S. carrier-borne aircraft

Crimes
- Crimes by U.S. servicemen occur all over Japan
- All Okinawan local assemblies adopt resolutions in protest against rape by U.S. Marine
- U.S. airman arrested in Okinawa for illegally entering private office
- U.S. employee at Kadena AB arrested on suspicion of using drug

LABOR
- JCP chair’s questioning in parliament sends shudders through Canon management
- Zenroren holds rally to revise Worker Dispatch Law
- Zenroren affiliated union stages protest against NTT job cut plan

MEDICAL SYSTEM
- Opposition parties together submit bill to revoke adverse medical-care system for elderly
- Citizens’ groups stage protests against new medical system for the elderly
- Health minister expresses intention to address shortage of doctors

CORRUPTION
- High court supports guilty verdict of bribery on LDP lawmaker

KOBAYASHI TAKIJI
- Fuwa speaks on 75th anniversary of death of Kobayashi Takiji

TOKYO
- Tokyo governor had entertained former management personnel who led ‘Ishihara Bank’ to failure

JCP- INTERNATIONAL
- JCP Shii holds talks with Vietnamese Ambassador
- Ogata meets with Cuban ambassador to Japan
- Shii congratulates new Cuban president
- JCP chair meets outgoing Pakistani ambassador
- Shii congratulates new president of Cyprus
- JCP Ichida attends Bulgarian National Day reception in Tokyo
- JCP and Vietnam delegates discuss the youth matters