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2003 JAN 29 - FEB 4 JPS NEWS

WEAPONS INSPECTIONS MUST BE CONTINUED
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo called on the international community to continue to strive for the inspection in Iraq to be carried on and for a peaceful resolution within the U.N. framework. more

TOYOTA MOTOR BRIEFLY STOPS ITS LINES
Following the JCP's parliamentary questioning, Toyota Motor Corp. called a brief halt to its assembly lines to announce that it would correct habitual long working hours. more

END NUCLEAR FUEL RECYCLING PROGRAM
A high court ruled the government had wrongly approved the building of the reactor with serious defects. more

IRAQ QUESTION
* JCP calls for weapons inspections to be continued (January 29)

Is U.S. president isolating himself from international community? -- Akahata editorial, January 30
* 3,500 protest against U.S. war on Iraq (February 1)
* Women call for anti-war actions (February 3)

NUCLEAR ENERGY

End nuclear fuel recycling program -- Akahata editorial, January 29 (excerpts)

SCANDALS
* Pro-airport Dietmembers receive 36 million yen from bid-winning construction firms (January 29)
* Nagano prefectural watchdog reports that public bidding was rigged (February 1)

DIET
* Supplementary budget enacted (January 31)
* Koizumi's policy speech is empty slogan: Shii (February 1)
* Two 'industrial revitalization' bills will let small businesses go bust (January 29)

BANKRUPTCY
* 212,000 citizens filed for personal bankruptcy in 2002 (January 29)

LABOR
* JCP parliamentary questioning causes Toyota assembly line to stop (February 3)

CUTBACKS
* Union holds discussion on workers' efforts to eradicate medical accidents (January 30)
* Say 'no' to cuts in social services (February 4)

U.S. FORCES IN JAPAN
* Government considers constructing a new base for U.S. forces' touch-and-goes (January 31)

End noise damage, end home porting for U.S. forces -- Akahata editorial, February 2 (excerpts)
* Town assembly says 'No' to U.S. touch-and-go relocation plan (February 4)

ANTI-NUCLEAR MOVEMENT
* Pacific peace move ment welcomes Gensuikyo's anti-nuclear initiatives (January 30)
* World's Hibakusha makes joint action against nuclear weapons (February 2)

ELECTION
* Tenth JCP mayor enters (February 4)

Residents' common cause was power to elect JCP member mayor -- Akahata editorial, February 4 (excerpts)
* Hiroshima mayor Akiba reelected, defeating LDP-Komei challenger (February 4)
* JCP publishes policies in preparation for nationwide local elections (February 4)

AKAHATA 75TH ANNIVERSARY

75 years of Akahata exposing truth -- Akahata editorial, January 31 (excerpts)