2005 JANUARY 19 - JANUARY 25 NEWS

CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AND TAX INCREASE WILL DARKEN FUTURE
In the ordinary Diet session of the year marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro said that it is time to review the constitution and increase tax.

MAJOR STRUGGLE NOW BEGINS
The JCP's parliamentary and extraparliamentary struggle is now devoted to opposition to the adverse revision of the Constitution and tax increases by maintaining a broad perspective of defending the interests of the Japanese people and world peace.

NO ONE CAN SECURE 'FREEDOM' BY DESTROYING PEACE
What U.S. President Bush was saying in his inaugural address was that the war of aggression against another country, in which people's freedoms are jeopardized, was necessary for freedom for the United States, an oppressor's distorted logic for dominating the world.


PARLIAMENT
Prime Minister's policy speech
Prime minister's call for constitutional change and tax increase will darken future -- Akahata editorial, January 22
* PM Koizumi, DPJ leader concur in a consumption tax increase (January 25)
* DPJ and SDP members leave Diet sessions to protest prime minister's responses (January 25)

PARLIAMENT
JCP
* A major struggle now begins to stop the tax increase and adverse revision of the Constitution (January 22)

PARLIAMENT
Protests
* Citizens and lawmakers call for constitutional revision process to be thwarted (January 22)
* Democratic organizations stage petition to Diet (January 22)


POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN NHK
* Journalists protest flagrant political interference (January 19)


CONSTITUTION
* Keidanren proposes constitutional revision (January 19)
Keidanren states Article 9 should be thrown away -- Akahata editorial, January 20 (abridged)
* Former Japanese prime minister proposes establishing monarch through constitutional changes (January 21)


SDF
* JCP Shii: SDF activity in Sumatra must be limited to humanitarian support (January 20)
* Pilots oppose use of civil aircraft by SDF (January 21)


U.S. FORCES
* Peace Committee urges government to stop drilling survey for new U.S. base (January 19)
* U.S. NLP conducted despite surrounding cities' protests (January 19)


BUSH PRESIDENCY II
No one can secure 'freedom' by destroying peace -- Akahata editorial, January 23


EDUCATION
* Over one hundred intellectuals oppose change in Fundamental Law of Education (January 21)


LABOR
* 2005 Spring labor offensive starts (January 21)
Widening income gap is a social threat -- Akahata editorial, January 25 (abridged)


PUBLIC PROSECUTION
* JCP complains to public prosecutor general of biased prosecution (January 20)
* Rally held to support suppressed JCP flyer distributor (January 24)


HIBAKUSHA
*High court orders government damages to Korean Hibakusha (January 20)


TOKYO
*Budget for Tokyo's small businesses cut by two-thirds since Ishihara became governor (January 24)


ELECTION
*All JCP candidates returned in two local elections (January 25)


JCP INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
*Outgoing Cambodian ambassador visits Fuwa (January 25)





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