2003 AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2 NEWS

KOIZUMI'S CALL FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ANALYZED
Koizumi's open call can be seen as part of the historical attempt to create an environment making contempt for Article 9 becomes prevalent along with the demand that Japan exercise the right of collective self-defense.

MISSILE DEFENSE PROGRAM BRINGS ARMS RACE FOR PREEMPTIVE ATTACK STRATEGY
Pressed by the U.S. president, Japan's prime minister pledged to "speed up the study" of Japan's participation in the MD program along with the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq.

JCP ANNOUNCES EMERGENCY PROPOSAL FOR JOB SECURITY
JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi says that by just ending unpaid overtime work to increase job availability, the unemployment rate will go down by 2.4 percent and gross domestic product will increase by 2.5 percent.

CONSTITUTION
Stop the prime minister's open attack on constitutional principles of peace and democracy -- Akahata editorial, August 27
* Koizumi's open call for amendments to the Constitution analyzed (August 29)
* Prime Minister Koizumi on constitutional revision (August 27)
* Chronology: Domestic and foreign moves calling for constitutional amendments (August 27)

MISSILE DEFENSE
Missile defense program brings arms race for preemptive attack strategy -- Akahata editorial, August 28

NORTH KOREA
Six-party talks marked a step forward toward peaceful resolution -- Akahata editorial, August 30

WOMEN
* Women protest against ministers' contempt for women (August 29)
Government must comply with U.N. advice to redress heavy discrimination against women -- Akahata editorial, August 31 (excerpts)