2009 MAY 27 - JUNE 2


LDP and DPJ will call for cutting Lower House seats
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Democratic Party are calling for a deeper cut in the number of Diet seats, trying to show the public that they are seeking to cut wasteful expenditures and make it easy to persuade the public to agree with a consumption tax increase.

JCP calls for Diet to summon former Foreign Ministry officials to testify about secret Japan-U.S. nuclear deal
Kyodo News reported that four former Japanese vice foreign ministers testified that they had had access to a "secret accord between Japan and the United States regarding the handling of nuclear weapons."

Arguments in support of 'attack on enemy bases' go against Constitution: JCP Shii
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo criticized the opinion arising from the government and ruling Liberal Democratic Party officials asserting that preemptive attack capability is necessary in view of the North Korean nuclear test.

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POLITICS
LDP and DPJ will call for cutting Lower House seats
JCP Kokuta says 14 trillion yen supplementary budget will not help economic recovery
Diet session extended in order to have undemocratic bills enacted

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POLITICAL FUNDS
JCP Kokuta says debate between LDP and DPJ leaders was disappointing
No one opposes JCP argument that 'parties should be funded by personal donations'
JCP Ichida says DPJ first must come clean about alleged illegal donations to its former leader
Nikai's aides not prosecuted over Nishimatsu scandal

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NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Abolition of nuclear weapons
JCP visits embassies on issue of nuclear weapons abolition
Shii and South African ambassador agree on cooperation to abolish nuclear weapons
JCP lawmaker reaches out to international commission co-chair on nuclear disarmament

North Korea
Kokuta stresses importance of unified international action against North Korea's nuclear test

Hibakusha
Hibakusha again win A-bomb disease suit against government

Secret agreement
JCP calls for Diet to summon former Foreign Ministry officials to testify about secret Japan-U.S. nuclear deal
Government's denial of 'secret deal on nuclear weapons' driven into a corner: Niihara

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'DEFENSE' POLICY
Aso says Japan can attack enemy bases
Arguments in support of 'attack on enemy bases' go against Constitution: JCP Shii

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'ANTI-PIRACY' OPERATION
P3C patrol aircraft head to Djibouti
Block 'anti-piracy' bill that paves way for permanent dispatch of Self-Defense Forces abroad: Akahata editorial

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U.S. FORCES IN JAPAN
So-called experts' arguments that they support new U.S. base construction are dubious

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ECONOMY
JCP lawmakers request that government help local businesses recover from H1N1 flu-related losses

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LABOR
Workers sue IBM
Laid-off temporary worker wins full-time position

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JCP
Ogata meets with Cuba's ICAP vice president
Shii mourns the death of ex-South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun
JCP Chair Shii congratulates new El Salvadoran President Funes