DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 10/19/07

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 004902 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 10/19/07 Index: (1) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura on US Defense Department's statement: "Japan will continue work to confirm what should be confirmed" (Nikkei) (2) The US has clearly denied diversion allegation in its statement on MSDF-supplied fuel, says foreign minister (Tokyo Shimbun) (3) US DOD statement has increased suspicion of oil diversion, says DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama (Nikkei) (4) War on terrorism -- Japan's choice (Part 1): Government finds some room for accepting Ozawa's ISAF participation proposal (Mainichi) (5) Japan's Burma diplomacy drifting between assistance and pressure (Asahi) (6) DPJ has yet to prepare definite strategy for early start of deliberations on its own bills (Asahi) (7) MSDF officer's sloppy handling of secrets (Sankei) (8) US Air Force to conduct paradrop training today at Kadena base (Ryukyu Shimpo) (9) Hiroshima police probing US servicemen over gang rape (Chuugoku Shimbun) (10) 4 Iwakuni-based US Marines rape underage girl (Yomiuri) (11) It's unforgivable: Machimura (Yomiuri) (12) Government aims at eliminating overwork in 10 years' time: Number of workers who work 60 hours a week to be halved; Ratio of men who take child-care leave to be raised to 10 PERCENT (Asahi) (13) TOP HEADLINES (14) EDITORIALS (15) Prime Minister's schedule, October 18 (Nikkei) (16) Political Cartoon ARTICLES: (1) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura on US Defense Department's statement: "Japan will continue work to confirm what should be confirmed" NIKKEI NET (Full) October 19, 1:26 PM In a press conference after a cabinet meeting today, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura praised a statement issued by the SIPDIS United States Department of Dense that denied the alleged diversion of fuel supplied by the Maritime Self-Defense Force to US warships in the Indian Ocean for use in the Iraq war. Machimura also said: "The government will continue efforts to confirm what should be confirmed." TOKYO 00004902 002 OF 013 Machimura stated: "Although various reports have been made, I understand that the conclusion is that the oil-diversion allegation was denied." He added: "Since it is still uncertain whether everything has been cleared up in the statement, the Defense Ministry will continue work to confirm points that should be confirmed." Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba also said in a press conference: "The government naturally should trust the US statement." But he went on to say: "It is not enough to totally believe what the US says. We will try to reconfirm the facts as much as possible by comparing the US-provided information with our records." The statement read that the US confirmed the MSDF-provide fuel was not used for other purposes than in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan, but the statement added that it is difficult to completely clarify for what purposes the fuel was used. (2) The US has clearly denied diversion allegation in its statement on MSDF-supplied fuel, says foreign minister TOKYO SHIMBUN online 13:33, Oct. 19, 2007 Referring to the US government statement that the fuel the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) supplied to a US vessel in the Indian Ocean was not used for purposes other than the antiterror operations in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura during a press conference held today after a cabinet meeting indicated his view that the diversion allegation has been denied. He noted, "The US categorically said that there was no fuel diversion. I think this statement will suffice." The US government statement denied fuel diversion, but at the same time it noted that it is impossible to correctly determine how the fuel was used. Regarding this part of the statement, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura underscored that the government will SIPDIS continue its effort to determine how the fuel was used, if there are diversion allegations, pointing out, "Since the use of the entire amount supplied has yet to be determined, the Defense Ministry will continue the work of determining whatever needs to be determined." (3) US DOD statement has increased suspicion of oil diversion, says DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama NIKKEI NET 13:02, October 19, 2007 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary-General Yukio Hatoyama this morning criticized the US Department of Defense's statement acknowledging the difficulty in tracking the use of fuel provided to US naval vessels by the Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Indian Ocean, saying: "The answer was that they do not know very well (about how Japanese fuel was used). Suspicions have grown stronger that (Japanese oil) was diverted for use in the Iraq war." He was speaking to the press corps in Tokyo. He also said: "There is no mistake that the USS Kitty Hawk headed for the Iraq war after indirectly receiving oil from the MSDF supply ship Tokiwa. Even they could not totally deny (the oil diversion)." TOKYO 00004902 003 OF 013 (4) War on terrorism -- Japan's choice (Part 1): Government finds some room for accepting Ozawa's ISAF participation proposal MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged slightly) October 19, 2007/10/19 Will Japan's role be limited to refueling foreign vessels, or will ground troops be dispatched as well? Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa's proposal for joining the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan has brought some changes to the ongoing debate on the war on terrorism. The government and ruling parties tried to win the general public over to their side by focusing only on the propriety of continuing the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean, contending that it is safe and cheap and has won international praise. Then came Ozawa's unexpected proposal that Japan should be able to make full-fledged contributions. Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a House of Representatives Budget Committee session on Oct. 9 lashed out at Ozawa, saying, "Under the Constitution, Japan is not allowed to take part in the ISAF, which involves armed force." The government, however, has not dismissed the idea of joining the ISAF altogether. In January of this year, then Prime Minister SHINZO ABE delivered a speech at NATO headquarters in which he indicated that Japan would cooperate with NATO's Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)'s humanitarian activities in Afghanistan. Although the PRT's objective is to provide civilian assistance by civilians, it is teamed up with the ISAF because it needs armed forces for ensuring security. This standpoint has not changed under the administration of Prime Minister Fukuda. In fact, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura told the press in Tokyo on Oct. 14, "ISAF participation is not inconceivable." On the night of Oct. 17, a senior government official compromisingly said: "If the DPJ were to tell us to include ISAF participation in new antiterrorism legislation, we will do so at anytime. The ISAF is not limited to activities by ground troops." Making compromises is not an option for Ozawa, who aims to wrest power from the ruling coalition. Conversely, Ozawa's proposal has exposed the weak points of the government and the ruling parties' constitutional policy and international contribution strategy. Ozawa's proposal has caused a stir in the DPJ as well. The stock argument of DPJ shadow vice defense minister Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, the diplomat turned lawmaker on Ozawa's advice, is Japan's support should be limited to civilian assistance. Ozawa told Yamaguchi on Oct. 4, "Your argument is based on policy, mine is on the Constitution." Ozawa's message: There is no need to take his assertion as a counterproposal to real politics. Ozawa seems to think this way: The constitutional argument is just a means of applying pressure on the government in order to take power, and it should be translated into policy only after taking the reins of government. It has been six years since the United States and Britain started TOKYO 00004902 004 OF 013 the war on terrorism in Afghanistan following 9/11. The ruling and opposition parties are continuing to use the Constitution in their tug-of-war to serve their interests. What Japan must do is again being questioned. The ruling coalition new antiterrorism legislation project team met at the Diet building on Oct. 4. Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kyoji Yanagisawa slowly presented a paper specifying the SIPDIS outline of a new antiterrorism bill to the team's chair and former LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki. Under the purposes, the paper said to protect the sea lanes from terrorism. It was reportedly devised by senior government officials. A discontent Yamasaki said: "This would become a big problem, constituting an exercise of Japan's right to self-defense." That part was dropped from the paper in an LDP joint meeting the following day. The Antiterrorism Special Measures Law enacted in 2001 allows wide-ranging activities, including refueling naval vessels attacking Pakistan. The new legislation is designed to allow the MSDF to refuel only the vessels taking part in the maritime interdiction operations. At the same time, the government has begun emphasizing that defending the waters where oil tankers cruise through serves Japan's national interests. Preoccupied with the DPJ's reaction and popular will, the government and ruling parties now seems to have put on the backburner the debate's main theme of the justification for participating in the war on terrorism. The argument that supplying oil is cheap and safe is also out of line with the Gulf War's lesson that money does not settle everything. They even incorporated whimsical points in the draft bill irrespective of the constitutional debate. Possibly affected by the former ABE administration that tried to revise the constitutional interpretation, the government's interpretation is becoming hollow. The situation in the DPJ is no better. The party held a meeting of its foreign and defense departments to discuss a counterproposal yesterday in which the following views came up: "We should draw up a counterproposal with a sense of urgency of what to do tomorrow after taking the reins of government." "We must not present ourselves as lacking unity before taking power." "Let's come up with the party's policy by setting aside President Ozawa's view." Some 20 members who attended the meeting all stated their opinions, with most of them having a change of government in mind. Views on the main topic of SDF dispatch split, and serious debate did not take place on the Constitution. Shortly after assuming office, Prime Minister Fukuda presented a handwritten memo to the policy speech-writing government officials. "Foreign policy to produce peace" was the memo's main point. It reflected Fukuda's special sentiment. During his tenure as chief cabinet secretary in May 2002, Fukuda personally added "to study necessary steps for making the challenge of bringing about perpetual peace and nation building the central TOKYO 00004902 005 OF 013 piece of international cooperation" to the then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's policy speech manuscript. Eight months after 9/11, the MSDF was providing fuel to foreign vessels in the Indian Ocean. But Japan was not able to send SDF troops to Afghanistan to provide humanitarian assistance. Fukuda wanted to do something about such a situation. The month after Koizumi delivered his policy speech, Fukuda established an advisory panel to discuss international peace cooperation reporting to the chief cabinet secretary. The panel produced a report in December that year specifying the need to establish a permanent law enabling the government to dispatch the SDF to provide logistical support to multinational forces. Constitutional revision is not simple and a permanent legislation is necessary before that in order to play an international role, is Fukuda's stock argument. It has been five years since then, and Fukuda is now prime minister. Defense Minister Ishiba is also a proponent of permanent legislation. But given the opposition-controlled Upper House, the LDP's coalition partner of the New Komeito is cautious about enacting a permanent law. Fukuda's policy speech stopped short of mentioning specific ways to produce peace. Under the situation, Fukuda will have to seal off his permanent-law argument for the time being. This month, Yamasaki has received many questions from persons connected with the US government, such as, "What is going to happen in the future?" or "For how many days will the Japanese vessels be away from the Indian Ocean?" US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer also expressed hope for bringing a successful conclusion to the question of new legislation. Japan, however, seems to be rocking today regarding such fundamental questions as why the war on terrorism and what and to what extent the country has to do. (5) Japan's Burma diplomacy drifting between assistance and pressure ASAHI (Page 3) (Slightly abridged) October 19, 2007 Japan's policy toward Burma is drifting, following the death of Japanese photographer Kenji Nagai (50) in a shooting incident in Burma. Will the government continue its own stance of urging the nation to work on democratization, by maintaining its channel with the military junta through official development assistance (ODA)? Or will it shift to the policy of trying to pressure the regime with sanctions, similar to those adopted by the US and European countries? Asahi Shimbun will look into possible options available to Japan in its efforts to democratize Burma, with sanctions other countries are imposing into account. The Kokang Special Region in Shan State, Burma was once a global center for opium poppy growing. Visits by foreigners are strictly restricted in that remote region. Members of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),an independent administrative agency, are teaching the farmers to grow rice, corn and cultivate tea bushes as substitute crops for poppies. Since the growing of opium poppies came to an end, when locals reached an agreement with the central government, their poverty has worsened due to a substantial drop in cash income. Many died of TOKYO 00004902 006 OF 013 malaria. Some even starved to death. The Japanese government decided to provide comprehensive assistance to such areas as medical services and education to improve the poor situation and launched in April 2005 a technical cooperation program that included the dispatch of experts. The plan is to disburse 900 million yen over five years. Japan's ODA to Burma started as a substitute for war compensation. Japan was one of Burma's major creditors for a long period of time. In July 1988, a military junta replaced the Ne Win regime, when it was toppled by a democracy movement. Though Japan temporarily suspended new aid, it resumed part of the assistance program in ¶1989. Currently it extends only grant aid and technical cooperation. Since movement leader Aung San Suu Kyi was detained under house arrest, no new outlays have been provided,. The government decided that only aid that meets the following three requirements will be provided, after a careful check: (1) highly urgent humanitarian-related projects; (2) projects to nurture human resources that will contribute to democratization; and (3) projects targeting the region as a whole, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). However, following the murder of Nagai, the Foreign Ministry (MOFA) has decided to cancel grant aid worth 552 million yen for a project to construct a human resources development center. MOFA is now reading further reductions in the number of projects. However, it is difficult to lay down clear-cut guidelines. Cuts in grant aid will unlikely serve as an effective measure against the military junta. Although the EU and the US denounce the military junta, they have continued to provide humanitarian aid to NGOs. One senior MOFA official said, "Revising our aid policy is a political message to the military junta and the international community. We do not intend to settle the problem by slashing aid to that nation." Channel disappears due to downfall of premier There were times when using aid to create communication channels to the junta worked. In particular, during 2001 - 2002, Japan developed an independent diplomacy to urge that country to democratize. It did so by cultivating ties with Khin Nyunt, the First Secretary of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) who was then number three person in the military regime. He later became premier. However, Khin Nyunt fell from power in 2004, when he was suddenly dismissed as premier. With the launch of the dictatorship of SPDC chairman Than Shwe, Japan lost its personal contacts in the military junta. Another factor has been a major change in recent years in the international situation surrounding Burma. China, whose economy is moving forward, is though to be extending enormous economic aid to Burma. The advance of Chinese companies into Burma has been noticeable. The same MOFA official stressed, "Japan can play a role, taking the patch in between the US and the EU, which are denouncing the military junta, and China, which is strengthening ties by extending enormous aid." The Japanese government is aiming at establishing a direct dialogue TOKYO 00004902 007 OF 013 between Chairman Than Shwe and Suu Kyi, after the environment has been created by the international community united criticism of the military junta. The junta supposedly most fears economic sanctions by China. The government plans to press China to open the way for the military junta to come forward for dialogue. Talking about Japan's choices, former Ambassador to Burma Shigeru Tsumori noted: "Japan should continue to convey to Burma the spirit SIPDIS of democracy it has nurtured in the postwar decades, and it should not be carried away by the power politics of China and India, and it should not consider abandoning Burma." (6) DPJ has yet to prepare definite strategy for early start of deliberations on its own bills ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) October 19, 2007 A full-scale battle has been launched at the start of deliberations on the bills the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has submitted to the House of Councillors to implement its pledges in the latest House of Councillors election campaign. The DPJ wishes to start deliberations at each committee early next week, but the ruling coalition is opposed to the DPJ plan, citing the conventional rule of unanimity in the Upper House. This indisputably reflects the current state of the reversal of strengths between both camps. The DPJ, while toning down its high-handed measures for now, is likely to keep seeking to open act two of its running battle with the LDP. Priority to pension The DPJ submitted to the Upper House a bill designed to provide subsidies to individual farmers and a bill aimed to scrap the Iraq Reconstruction Special Measures Law yesterday. Party executive members, including President Ozawa and the chairmen of both chambers' Diet affairs committees, met yesterday and agreed to urge the government to start deliberations on the 11 bills submitted or to be submitted by the DPJ to the Upper House during the current Diet session. In the DPJ's view, it is conceivable that the government and the ruling coalition will give up on the passage of its antiterrorism bill designed to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling service and close the current Diet session on Nov. 10 as scheduled. That's why the main opposition party wishes to have its own antiterrorism bill adopted in the Upper House and start deliberations on the bill as soon as possible, in the hope of playing up the outcome of the state of the reversal of strengths between the ruling and opposition camps. The DPJ has given top priority to the passage of a bill banning pension premiums from being misappropriated. The party aims to have the bill pass the Upper House in early November, in a bid to underscore its presence over the pension issue and spotlight the pension record issue again in the process of deliberations. The ruling camp, however, cannot easily allow the opposition camp to demonstrate its influence. To that end, the ruling coalition has already launched a strategy to delay deliberations on DPJ-presented bills, based on the maneuverings taken at the House Steering Committee. Further, the DPJ yesterday called for cabinet ministers' policy TOKYO 00004902 008 OF 013 speeches at all committees in the Upper House, but the ruling camp insisted that ministers should make policy speeches in the Lower House first. In the end, cabinet ministers delivered speeches only at four committees, excluding those on health, labor and welfare tasked with discussing pension issues and foreign and defense committees dealing with the bill abolishing the Iraq law. Wall of "conventional rule" There is also a wall that exists in the form of a conventional rule of unanimity in managing the Diet. In the DPJ dissatisfaction is growing at the ruling camp's approach, with Upper House Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Susumu Yanase complaining: "It is unreasonable for the ruling parties, after having stalled the Diet session, to refer to a custom." Upper House Chairman Azuma Koshiishi said in a press conference yesterday: "The former ABE administration tried to clear up everything by forcibly taking a vote, but it is now impossible to reach a settlement by using their high-handed manner." In meetings of the Upper House Budget Committee meeting held until the 17th, the DPJ had called for summoning of witnesses, but the conventional rule of unanimity dismissed that possibility. The DPJ has yet to given up using forceful means, as Koshiishi said: "If necessary, we will ask the government to invoke our administrative investigation right or issue summons as a witness." But the opposition party has made a cautious response, as a senior Upper House member said: "If the DPJ breaks the conventional rule in the Upper House, it might receive a blow from the ruling camp in the Lower House." Looking askance at the showdown, the New Komeito and the Japanese Communist Party have begun to move to mediate between the DPJ and the ruling camp over bills to help the socially disadvantaged, such as a bill amending the Victims' Livelihood Reconstruction Assistance Law. A senior DPJ member of the Upper House grumbled: "We have drawn up bills with no help from bureaucrats, unlike the ruling camp. We are still feeling things out." (7) MSDF officer's sloppy handling of secrets SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) October 19, 2007 A Maritime Self-Defense Force lieutenant has violated the MSDF's internal regulations and saved defense data containing classified information on a computer accessible to anyone in his unit, sources revealed yesterday. In this incident, those involved were punished, according to the sources. The lieutenant is assigned to Fleet Air Wing 1, which is under the MSDF Fleet Air Force and based in the city of Omura, Nagasaki Prefecture. The MSDF has not unveiled the facts about the incident on the grounds that their punishment was not up to standard. The MSDF has so far been involved in a number of information leakage incidents, including Aegis and other critical data that could undermine Japan's national defense. This time around, the MSDF's slipshod management of information became clear again. According to the MSDF, the problem was brought to light in a biennial training review of fleet air units in July this year. A "briefing sheet" for antisubmarine maneuvers was saved on an MSDF computer used by the lieutenant with a shortcut on the screen. TOKYO 00004902 009 OF 013 The computer interfaced with other computers under a local area network (LAN),so the saved file was left freely accessible to anyone in the lieutenant's unit. The briefing sheet is a file that details antisubmarine drills. It specifies the names of MSDF vessels participating in the drills as well as radio frequencies used for the drills. Such data is classified under the category of "confidential" or "hi." According to investigations so far, the MSDF has not confirmed any external leak of the data. (8) US Air Force to conduct paradrop training today at Kadena base RYUKYU TIMES (Page 1) (Abridged) October 19, 2007 The US Air Force will conduct parachute drop training today from around 3:30 p.m. at Kadena Air Base with about 10 parajumpers from the 31st Rescue Squadron of the 18th Wing based at Kadena, using C-130 fixed-wing aircraft. The USAF explained the training as "exceptional." Akira Uehara, chief of the governor's office of Okinawa Prefecture called the 18th Wing commander and the US consul general in Okinawa yesterday afternoon to propose suspending the paradrop training. "It's really regrettable to carry out such training, following the one in January," Uehara told them. "It also runs counter to the Japan-US Special Action Committee's (SACO) basic policy of mitigating the local burden," Uehara added. The Okinawa prefectural government sent its deputy director for military base affairs and disaster prevention, Yoshihiro Hosaka, to the Foreign Ministry's Okinawa Office and the Defense Ministry's Okinawa Defense Bureau and requested that the training be suspended. A local council of three municipalities on the Kadena airbase also faxed its request of suspension to the Kadena base and the local defense bureau. The USAF announced the parachute training plan yesterday afternoon. "We will basically conduct the drill on the island of Iejima, but there is an exceptional need to conduct the drill at Kadena due to bad weather conditions and for operational reasons," a base spokesman said. The spokesman also said, "We will try to avoid its impact as far as we can in trying not to trouble local residents." With this, the USAF sought understanding. The spokesman added, "Our rescue members have saved the lives of US military personnel and local people." They're doing whatever they like: Gov. Nakaima Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima has voiced his discontent with the US Air Force for its announcement of a plan to carry out paradrop training at Kadena Air Base today. "It's outrageous," Nakaima told the Ryukyu Shimpo in an interview yesterday afternoon. He added: "I feel strongly they're doing whatever they like these days. I have filed a protest and made a strong request through my office. In Tokyo, it would be like doing such training at Hibiya Park. I feel strongly they've now lost their senses. Why is the US military doing whatever it likes?" (9) Hiroshima police probing US servicemen over gang rape CHUGOKU SHIMBUN (Online) (Full) TOKYO 00004902 010 OF 013 October 19, 2007 Four US Marines from the US Marine Corps' Iwakuni base in the city of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, are strongly suspected of having assaulted a 19-year-old girl from Hiroshima City in the city's Naka Ward in mid-October. Police authorities from the Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters 1st Investigation Division and the Hiroshima Central Police Station have started to investigate the four on suspicion of gang-raping the girl, sources revealed today. According to investigation, the four are suspected of having assaulted the girl in a passenger car parked in a parking lot in Hiroshima City's Naka Ward. They are believed to have taken out the girl they got to know at a restaurant in the city's Naka Ward. After the incident, the girl left the scene and reported it to a police officer on patrol nearby. The incident was brought to light later. She filed a complaint with police, and the Hiroshima police started to investigate the incident. She remembered the car's license plate number, so the four have now been identified, according to the police. The Hiroshima police will request the US military to turn over the four, based on the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement. Iwakuni-based US Marines gather in a downtown area of the city's Naka Ward and sometimes create a ruckus all night long. There have been complaints from neighboring residents. (10) 4 Iwakuni-based US Marines rape underage girl YOMIURI (YOMIURI ONLINE) (Full) October 19, 2007 (12:33 p.m.) Hiroshima prefectural police have started to investigate four US Marines from the US Marine Corps' Iwakuni base in the city of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, suspecting that they gang-raped an underage female they got to know at a restaurant in the city of Hiroshima, sources said today. The local police will request the US military to turn over the four under the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement as soon as their allegations become definite. According to investigations, the four are suspected to have assaulted the woman in a car parked on a parking lot in Hiroshima City's Naka Ward early on Oct. 14. The four and the female had just met on Oct. 13 at the restaurant. The young woman has filed a complaint. In response, the local police have been conducting an investigation. (11) It's unforgivable: Machimura YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) Eve., October 19, 2007 In connection with a recent gang rape incident involving US servicemen, Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura, meeting the press this morning, said Hiroshima prefectural police have been investigating the incident in cooperation with authorities from US Forces Japan. "If it's true, it's unforgivable," Machimura said. Defense Minister Ishiba also told a news conference, "The United TOKYO 00004902 011 OF 013 States has been saying it wants to be a good neighbor not only in Okinawa but also in other places (where its troops are stationed)." Ishiba added, "If it's true, it's extremely regrettable." (12) Government aims at eliminating overwork in 10 years' time: Number of workers who work 60 hours a week to be halved; Ratio of men who take child-care leave to be raised to 10 PERCENT ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) October 19, 2007 The government is now looking into the possibility of adopting work-life balance charter, aimed at eliminating the problem of being overworked and contributing to reversing the declining birthrate. A draft outline of action guidelines was revealed on Oct. 17. The paper underscores that in order to maintain the vitality of society, it is essential to take a second look at the way people have to work. The action guidelines for realizing the charter set goals with specific figures, such as reducing the ratio of workers who work more than 60 hours a week by 20 PERCENT from the ratio marked in 2006 -- 10.8 PERCENT -- in five years' time and then halving that ratio in 10 years' time. The outline will be presented to a meeting on the 18 of the "Government-Private Sector op Leaders Council to Promote Work-Balance Balance," a working group consisting of representatives of labor and management, related cabinet ministers and experts, and formally adopted possibly in late November. The government will consider measures necessary to attain set goals. It will also seek cooperation from economic organizations and labor unions. The aim of setting numerical targets is to alleviate concentration of the workload on men in their thirties and forties, thereby promoting participation in society by women and the elderly. A target for an employment rate will also be set. Such a rate for women in the 20-44 age bracket will be raised from the current 65 PERCENT to 69 PERCENT -72 PERCENT in 10 years' time, that of men in the 60-64 age bracket from the current 67 PERCENT to 79 PERCENT -80 PERCENT , and the rate of women in the same age bracket from the current 39 PERCENT to 41 PERCENT -43 PERCENT . The ratio of women who continue to work before and after the birth of a first child will be increased from the current 38 PERCENT to 45 PERCENT in five years' time and to 55 PERCENT in 10 years' time. The ratio of male workers who take child-care leave will be boosted from the present 0.5 PERCENT to 5 PERCENT in five years' time and to 10 PERCENT in 10 years' time. The length of time male workers with a child younger than six years old spend on child care and domestic affairs will be increased from an hour a day, marked in 2006 to 1.45 hours a day in five years' time and 2.5 hours in 10 years' time. Other goals include raising the ratio of workers who take annual leave with pay from the current 47 PERCENT to 60 PERCENT in five years' time and doubling the ratio of telecommuters, who work at home, from the current 10 PERCENT . (13) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Former Vice Defense Minister Moriya played golf with arms supplier in violation of SDF regulations TOKYO 00004902 012 OF 013 Mainichi: War on terrorism (Part 1): Government finds room for endorsing Ozawa's proposal for ISAF participation Yomiuri: RCC's losses from housing loan woes amount to 275 billion yen Nikkei: Kirin in talks to acquire drug maker Kyowa Hakko Sankei: Tokyo district prosecutors interview former Yamada Corp executive, who is close to former Vice Defense Minister Moriya, on suspicion of breach of trust Tokyo Shimbun: US issues statement admitting difficulty in tracking use of MSDF fuel Akahata: Chairman Shii calls for talks between ruling and opposition camps on revision of disaster victims' assistance law (14) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Consumption tax hike must be discussed squarely (2) Revision of disaster victims' assistance law: Government must fund rebuilding housing Mainichi: (1) Solid policy necessary for tax hike discussion (2) Continue refueling operation to send clear message to international community Yomiuri: (1) Time to crack down on spam e-mail (2) Revision of Swords and Firearms Control Law: Gangsters must be fined Nikkei: (1) Growth, spending cuts essential for restoring fiscal health (2) Nintendo develops new market Sankei: (1) WWII chemical disposal project needs fresh start (2) Solid discussion follows fiscal projection Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Escalator accident at blind spot (2) G-7 financial minister and central bank governor meeting: Credit insecurity must be calmed down Akahata: (1) Antiterrorism Law: Is Japan going to continue supporting war of vengeance? (15) Prime Minister's schedule, October 18 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) TOKYO 00004902 013 OF 013 October 19, 2007 09:23 Attended a meeting of seven cabinet ministers to discuss Diet measures to contain global warming at the Kantei. Later, met Vice Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Erikawa. 10:57 Met Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Wakabayashi and others. 11:32 Met Japan Bank for International Cooperation's incoming and outgoing governor Koji Tanami and Kyosuke Shinozawa. Followed by incoming and outgoing governor Minoru Murobushi and Takeshi Komura and new Vice President Hideto Fujii of the Development Bank of Japan. 12:38 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. 13:40 Posed for photos for an information bulletin at party headquarters, with Information Unit Head Kawamura and others present. Reporter: With posters prepared, has everything been arranged for the next Lower House election? Prime minister: I wonder for what purpose the posters will be used. 14:55 Met at the Kantei with Vice Finance Minister Tsuda and Financial Bureau Director General Katsu. 15;24 Met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. Followed by Resources and Energy Agency Director General Mochizuki and METI Industry, Technology and Environment Bureau Director General Ishida. Joined by METI Minister Amari. 16:12 Met Public Security Intelligence Agency Director General Yanagi. Later, made a phone call to British Prime Minister Brown. 17:03 Attended a meeting of the Councillors' Conference on Ocean Policy. Later, met Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General Sasae. 18:06 Met Foreign Ministry's Foreign Policy Bureau Director General Kawai and Defense Ministry's Operations and Planning Bureau Director General Takamizawa. 19:20 Returned to his private residence in Nozawa. SCHIEFFER