2003 FEB 26-MAR 4 JPS NEWS
OPPOSITION PARTIES CLOSE RANKS ON HEALTH INSURANCE
About 200 Dietmembers and secretaries rallied to put a freeze on the planned increase in insured patients' payments for medical treatment. more
JCP CALLS FOR COMMON EFFORT TOWARD PEACE ON EARTH WITH RELIGIOUS PEOPLE
Shii Kazuo, JCP chair, proposed dialogues and peaceful coexistence between different religions and civilizations as a task for the 21st century. more
'I'LL NEVER STOP TALKING ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AT BIKINI'
A former crew member of a Japanese fishing boat that was showered with radioactive fallout from the U.S. hydrogen bomb test explosion says: "I want as many people as possible to know that we are haunted by terror due to the radiation we were exposed to 50 years ago." more
IRAQ QUESTION
* JCP criticizes foreign minister for supporting pro-war resolution (February 26)
* Shii calls for common effort for peace on earth with religious people (February 28)
* JCP criticizes Japan's submission to U.S. on Iraq (February 27)
* Words are mightier than swords: Theatrical people rally to oppose war on Iraq (March 3)
* Time to act without religious boundaries (march 3)
* Buddhist monk sings of peace (March 4)
POLITICS -Medical payment-
* Opposition parties close ranks to stop increase in insured patients' payment of medical costs (February 28)
* Four opposition parties jointly hold rally against adverse revision of medical insurance system (March 4)
POLITICS -Budget-
* Ruling parties railroad through FY2003 draft national budget (March 4)
POLITICS -Donations-
* JCP reveals LDP Dietmembers receive donations from high-speed rail contractors (February 28)
MUNICIPALITIES
* Town and village heads rally against compulsory mergers (February 26)
EDUCATION
* Government submits bills to change the status of government-run universities (March 1)
MEDIA
Japanese media attracted to power -- Akahata Current column, February 27OKINAWA
* Japan's foreign minister OKs U.S. live-fire drills despite misfire incident (February 26)
* U.S. commander's lecture canceled following residents' protest (February 26)
BIKINI DAY
* Promotion of -war movement discussed in Bikini tragedy commemoration (March 1)
* 49th Bikini Day commemorated (March 3)
* I'll never stop talking about my experience at Bikini -- Akahata Sunday edition, March 2
JUSTICE
* Justice minister is responsible for cover-ups of inmates' death under violence (February 26)
* JCP sues publisher and railway company for libel (March 4)
INTERNATIONAL
* Japan Gensuikyo's message distributed at non-aligned summit (February 27)
* JCP Ogata meets with Malaysian minister and Lower House member (February 28)
* Shii talks with Sri Lankan ambassador and Indian minister (March 4)
* JCP international chief meets with Qatar ambassador (March 4)