JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 11/14/08

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 11/14/08 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) Financial summit: 4) Prime Minister Aso to propose at the financial summit in Washington a doubling of IMF funding (Nikkei) 5) In effort to keep his administration afloat, Aso plans to show the public his diplomatic and economic skills at the financial summit (Sankei) 6) Japan, China, South Korea and ASEAN agree to expand dollar-swap arrangement (Asahi) Defense and security affairs: 7) Prime Minister Aso calls former ASDF chief Tamogami's historical essay "extremely inappropriate" (Sankei) 8) Aso under questioning in the Diet says civilian control of the SDF working as seen in the immediate dismissal of Tamogami (Asahi) 9) Following the Tamogami incident, Defense Ministry considering revision of the teaching of history to SDF troops (Nikkei) 10) ASDF head of training facility secretly dismissed for sexual harassment (Mainichi) Diet agenda: 11) Government and ruling parties agree that Diet dissolution this fiscal year will be difficult (Yomiuri) 12) Second supplementary budget will have to wait until early next year and the regular Diet session to be submitted (Tokyo Shimbun) 13) The Democratic Party of Japan is in a battle mode as Diet schedule slides (Tokyo Shimbun) 14) LDP factions agree that there is no reason to extend the current extra Diet session (Tokyo Shimbun) 15) Manufacturers' restructuring efforts in October resulted in the 10,000 job losses (Tokyo Shimbun) 16) Japan Coast Guard puts off the placing of personnel on research whaling ships, seeing such as ineffective (Mainichi) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Local governments rely on municipal bonds to fund retirement benefits for baby boomers; 44 prefectures' debts total 420 billion yen Mainichi: ASDF officer sacked over sexual harassment Yomiuri: Government to reinforce measures against soil contamination Nikkei: Aso at financial summit to push for dollar as key currency, more IMF funds TOKYO 00003146 002 OF 012 Sankei: With debts 10 times GDP, Iceland on verge of collapse Tokyo Shimbun: Financial summit tomorrow to share risks with rising countries Akahata: Rally held in Tokyo to rid government of bad policies in order to eliminate poverty, protect jobs, improving livelihood 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Organ transplants overseas: Actual state of brokers must be clarified (2) Cartels rampant: Legal revision urgent to tighten penalties Mainichi: (1) Prime Minister Aso's failure to dissolve Lower House dissolution costs dearly (2) Local agencies require step beyond integration Yomiuri: (1) Relax rules to allow more organ transplants (2) Arrest of Chen Shui-bian a stain on Taiwan's democratic politics Nikkei: (1) International antimonopoly law must be applied strictly and fairly (2) Put an end to growing crimes by elderly Sankei: (1) North Korea nuclear verification: Rejection of sampling must not be allowed (2) Crack down on cartels natural Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Low long will the fuel surcharge system be in place? (2) Steel cartel impermissible Akahata: (1) Tamogami scandal: Command and supervision called into question 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, November 13 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) November 14, 2008 07:59 Met at Kantei with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Konoike. 08:54 Parliamentary Defense Secretary Kishi and Upper House member Masahisa Sato. 09:00 Attended Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee session. 12:00 TOKYO 00003146 003 OF 012 Met with DPJ Upper House member Yukihisa Fujita. 14:41 Met at Kantei with Upper House member Katsuhito Asano. 15:06 Met with Special Advisor Yamaguchi, followed by Deputy Foreign Ministers Sasae and Kono, Economic Affairs Bureau chief Otabe and Finance Ministry International Bureau chief Tamaki, joined by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto and Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi. Sasae and Kono remained. 15:45 Met with Cabinet Secretariat Counsellors Gyoten and Ueno, attended by Matsumoto and Hayashi. 16:01 Met with New Komeito Deputy Chief Representative Hamayotsu and Women's Committee Chairperson Matsu. Met later with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 17:09 Met with Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka. Attended Overseas Economic Cooperation Council meeting. Met later with METI Minister Nikai. 19:17 Met with Matsumoto. 20:22 Departed for Washington to attend G-20 financial summit on government plane. 4) Financial summit: Prime minister to call for effort to maintain dollar's status as key currency, more IMF funds; Market oversight, regulations involving emerging countries as well NIKKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) November 14, 2008 The emergency summit to discuss measures to stabilize the financial market and the global economy will start in Washington on the evening of November 14 (morning of the 15th, Japan time). Prime Minister Taro Aso will make comprehensive proposals featuring increased funding for the IMF. He will also call for maintaining the dollar's status as the key global currency in order to protect the international currency system. He intends to urge the early disposal of bad loans, based on lessons Japan learned from the collapse of its asset-inflated bubble economy. He will indicate Japan's stance of proactively making a contribution to overcome the crisis. Gist of proposals to be made by prime minister ? Remove bad loans from balance sheets ? Inject public money into financial institutions ? Propose that the U.S. and other countries constrain excessive consumption and that Japan switch its economy to domestic-demand-led growth ? Increased funding for the IMF. Japan will disburse up to 100 billion dollars drawn from foreign currency reserves until that TOKYO 00003146 004 OF 012 proposal is realized. ? Strengthen the IMF's market surveillance and early warning functions ? Expand the financial stabilization forum to add emerging countries to members ? Currency officials join the work of standardizing accounting systems of various countries. Consider regulating credit-rating agencies. ? Make efforts to maintain the dollar's status as the key global currency ? Promote economic cooperation within East Asia 5) Aso eager to appeal foreign, economic policy credentials at financial summit Nov. 14-15, aiming to keep political base afloat SANKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) November 14, 2008 Prime Minister Taro Aso left Haneda Airport for Washington by government plane yesterday to attend the Group of 20 financial summit on Nov. 14-15. Aso will announce his own "initiative" designed to deal successfully with the ongoing global financial crisis. With the Aso initiative, he aims to play up Japan's presence and his own leadership at the summit. Critics have pointed out that Aso is losing his grip on power due to his decision to delay the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the calling of a snap election. Under such a situation, he aims to put the management of his administration back on track by his summit achievements. Speaking before reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence last night, the prime minister stressed that he had held discussions with state leaders on how to overcome the financial crisis at the recent Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and by phone. He said: "They place high hopes on Japan. I would like to speak of Japan's experience and provide other countries with useful knowledge. As long as the financial crisis persists, its effect on the real economy will become more serious. We must get over the crisis." Since he assumed office in September, Aso has shown an eagerness to play a leading role in dealing with the U.S.-triggered financial crisis. An aide to Aso said: "Japan's economy remains relatively stable. In addition, Japan dealt successfully with its own financial crisis by moving ahead with the disposal of nonperforming bank loans. These factors have given the prime minister a sense of confidence. In Aso's view, since Japan has experienced the so-called "lost decade," it has responsibility and qualifications (to take the lead in tackling the financial crisis)." Such confidence is represented by Japan's plan. Aso will announce in the summit a pledge of 100 billion dollars (approximately 9.6 trillion yen) to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The prime minister is determined to make utmost efforts to buoy up the economy, emphasizing he gives priority to achieving policies over dissolving the Diet. Now that uncertainty is looming over the domestic economy and people's livelihoods, Aso finds it impossible to dissolve the House of Representatives until public support for his cabinet and the stock market turn around. Such circumstances have encouraged him to buckle down to the task of boosting the economy. As long as the prime minister remains unable to change the TOKYO 00003146 005 OF 012 situation through foreign policy and other efforts, he will never be able to find the right timing for dissolving the Lower House. A mid-ranking member of the Liberal Democratic Party said: "The upcoming summit is a perfect opportunity for us to change the political situation," but the environment surrounding Japan is severe. Europe is about to grab the initiative in dealing with the financial crisis away from Japan, and Japan does not have as much influence as before. All the more because Japan is the sole industrialized nation in Asia among the G-20 countries, Japan may be pressed to play a difficult role, finding itself caught in the crossfire between the U.S. and Europe, as well as between industrialized countries and emerging countries. 6) Japan, China, South Korea, ASEAN eye expanding amount of dollar swap deal ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) November 14, 2008 The governments of ASEAN member nations, Japan, China and South Korea (ASEAN plus 3) have decided to increase the total amount of the swap agreement, which allows them to swap dollars in the event of a financial crisis. The plan is to further increase the amount from the 80 trillion dollars (approximately 8 trillion yen) set in May, to strengthen the system in readiness of a possible spillover of the financial crisis into Asia. Prime Minister Aso will propose at the financial summit promoting the dollar supply mechanism in the region. He will indicate a stance of tackling for currency stabilization in the Asian region. Under the plan, the total amount of the 2000 Chiang Mai Initiative, under which ASEAN member nations, Japan, China and South Korea forged bilateral currency swap deals, will be boosted. They will aim to reach an agreement at the ASEAN plus 3 summit meeting to be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The total amount of the pact is now is 58 billion dollars (approximately 5.8 trillion yen). Last May, the Asian countries agreed to increase the amount to more than 80 billion dollars and decided that the ratio of the swap pact between Japan, China and South Korea be set at 80 PERCENT and such for ASEAN be set at 20 PERCENT . However, the financial crisis has become serious since September. In Asia, South Korea's won plunged. Currency officials of Japan, China and South Korea have already begun talks to boost the amount of their swap deals. Finance ministers of the three countries are expected to hold talks in Washington on November 14. 7) Tamogami essay extremely inappropriate: Aso SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged) November 14, 2008 The House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee met yesterday and held intensive deliberations focusing on civilian control of the Self-Defense Forces, with Prime Minister Taro Aso attending. In the committee meeting, Aso criticized former Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami's making public his essay differing from the government's view as "extremely inappropriate." TOKYO 00003146 006 OF 012 He stated: "Not only those in the Self-Defense Forces, all of us have freedom of speech. However, it's only natural that there are restrictions to what we can say from our respective positions. If they don't want such restrictions, they should not be in the service." With this, Aso stressed that the SDF brass should follow the government's view in what they say. In the past, Tamogami contributed a similar essay to an in-house journal published mainly for the Self-Defense Forces. Asked about this fact, Aso stated: "The situation has been overlooked for years. That's a problem." There was also a question stating that civilian control has been malfunctioning. Aso rebutted this criticism, stating: "You suggest there will be a coup at once. That's a leap of logic. Civilian control worked perfectly. That's why he was dismissed." 8) Aso evades questions about ex-ASDF top official ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged) November 14, 2008 Following up on former Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami's publication of a controversial essay that conflicts with the government's view, the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee met yesterday to hold intensive deliberations over civilian control. Prime Minister Aso stressed before the committee, "Civilian control worked perfectly, so we were able to dismiss him right away." Aso did not seem to have a strong sense of crisis about the case. In the committee meeting, Yukihisa Fujita, representing the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto),took the floor and noted that four years ago Tamogami had contributed another essay-which conflicted with Japan's exclusively defense-oriented policy-to a magazine published mainly for the Self-Defense Forces. "This proves that civilian control does not work at all," Fujita stated, criticizing the prime minister and the government for their lack of a sense of crisis. Aso admitted: "Such a situation has been overlooked for years. That's a problem." However, Aso dodged Fujita's pursuit by saying that civilian control functioned with the dismissal of Tamogami. The committee recently summoned Tamogami to testify as an unsworn witness. After that, Tamogami said the Murayama statement is "a tool for suppressing speech." Asked about this, Aso only stated: "That's what he said after he resigned. ONE may say that's control over freedom of speech, and many will start to say this and that, so I can't say anything careless." 9) Defense Ministry considering review of history education for SDF personnel ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) November 14, 2008 In the wake of the dismissal of Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami over his controversial essay in which he contended that it was a false charge that Japan was an aggressor, the Defense Ministry yesterday began to consider a review of history education for the Self-Defense Forces personnel, including senior SDF officers. During recent deliberations in the ongoing Diet session, concern was expressed over the contents of Tamogami's TOKYO 00003146 007 OF 012 lectures on views of the state and history, which he had done as president of the SDF Joint Staff College. With this in mind, the ministry will select lecturers from outside of the SDF and check the contents of lectures. 10) ASDF brass officer dismissed for sexual harassment MAINICHI (Top play) (Full) November 14, 2008 Air Self-Defense Force 1st Technical School Commandant Maj. Gen. Kesayoshi Miyashita, 55, was dismissed in September from his post at the school in Hamamatsu City on suspicion of sexually harassing a woman assigned there, according to sources. Usually, personnel changes in the commandant's post have been announced. This time, however, the personnel change was not made public. The suspicion of sexual harassment has been under wraps within the ASDF for investigative reasons. In July, a USB thumb drive was found to have been stolen in the Ground Self-Defense Force, as the Mainichi Shimbun reported. Now, the ASDF has covered up a scandal. The dismissal occurred on Sept. 18. No ONE has yet to be appointed to head the 1st Technical School as the successor to Miyashita. The school's deputy commandant is still acting as its commandant. According to informed sources, the woman complained of Miyashita's sexual harassment around September. The ASDF Air Staff Office began looking into the case. The Defense Ministry, which has personnel authority for appointments to school commandant and other staff posts in the Self-Defense Forces, judged that it was inappropriate to retain Miyashita in the commandant post, so the Defense Ministry transferred him to the Air Staff Office. "It's true that there was sexual harassment from the school commandant," a senior official of the Defense Ministry told the Mainichi Shimbun. Miyashita graduated from the National Defense Academy. In his ASDF career, Miyashita has filled the posts of Air Staff Office Maintenance Division director and Air Support Command Logistics Department director general. He was appointed to the post of 1st Technical School commandant on Sept. 1, 2007. On that occasion, he was transferred from the post of Northern Air Defense Force Headquarters chief of staff. In addition, the Defense Ministry promoted him from the rank of colonel to the rank of major general. The rank of major general in the ASDF is a key position equivalent to the director general of a department in the Air Staff Office, ranking next to lieutenant general-the highest rank in the ASDF that has about 47,000 members. The 1st Technical School is a specialized educational institution for learning the maintenance of aircraft and aircraft-related equipment like guided weapons. "I am now under investigation, so I can't say anything. Sexual harassment all depends on how a woman interprets it," Miyashita said yesterday evening. The Air Staff Office public relations division commented: "Generally speaking, in the case of scandals, we make a decision after investigation regarding whether to make public the scandals. This is not a kind of cover-up. The woman says she does not want this to be made public. This is also ONE of the reasons why this case has not been made public. However, we do not think the commandant's post being vacant for a long time is desirable." TOKYO 00003146 008 OF 012 11) Lower House dissolution before end of March difficult; Government, ruling coalition will not extend current Diet session YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) November 14, 2008 The government and ruling parties decided yesterday not to extend the term of the current extraordinary Diet session, which will run until Nov. 30. They intend to submit to a regular session that will be convened in January a second fiscal 2008 supplementary budget bill that includes a cash-benefits payments plan, and a bill amending the Special Account Law, which is related to the second supplementary budget. The prevailing view in the ruling coalition is that the chance for dissolution of the House of Representatives and a snap election is slipping away. This is because there is a possibility that cash payments would not be ready to disburse until March or later. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Election Strategy Council Chairman Koga said in a meeting of his faction yesterday: "At ONE time a strong dissolution wind was blowing, but it has now become a gentle breeze. It will be important for you to carry out political campaigning in your electoral districts in December. But I also want you to make efforts (to reform the tax system and compile the budget)." The government and ruling coalition have judged that it would be wise for them to concentrate on compiling the state budget for next fiscal year and on diplomatic issues. The Diet will be out of session in December, since the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and other opposition parties have stepped up their stance of blocking the government's cash-benefits payment plan. The ruling camp is looking into the possibility of convening the regular session in early January, earlier than usual. A senior LDP official last night told reporters: "The current session will end on November 30." The ruling coalition has predicted that a bill amending the New Antiterrorism Law and a bill revising the Financial Functions Strengthening Law will be enacted before the end of November. As it stands, the government and ruling camp decided not to extend the ongoing session. The ruling camp is considering a minor extension of the current session, assuming that the DPJ might delay deliberations on the financial bill. 12) Second supplementary budget to be submitted to Diet early next year; No extension of current Diet session TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) November 14, 2008 The government and ruling coalition began yesterday coordination to submit a second supplementary budget for fiscal 2008 to an ordinary Diet session to be convened next January, without extending the current extraordinary session, which will end on Nov. 30. Prime Minister Taro Aso will make a final decision next week. Aso planned to submit the second supplementary budget bill, which would back a second economic stimulus package, including cash benefit payments worth 2 trillion yen, to the ongoing session and to TOKYO 00003146 009 OF 012 get it through the Diet. The work of compiling a second supplementary budget will take until late this month. The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) intends to put up a do-or-die resistance, including a delay of deliberations. Under such circumstance, many in the ruling coalition predicted that it would be difficult to enact the supplementary budget bill even if the current session was extended. In December the government and ruling camp will have to concentrate on the compilation of a stated budget for fiscal 2009 and a debate on tax system reform. Views were erupted in the government and ruling camp that turmoil in the Diet by extending the Diet session and submitting a second supplementary budget should be prevented. In consideration of those circumstances, Aso has strengthened its judgment that it would be better to delay the submission of a second supplementary budget to the next ordinary session. A person close to Aso said yesterday: "At present, the possibility of postponement is 99 PERCENT ." 13) Postponement of second supplementary budget likely to tamp down DPJ's readiness for showdown TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) November 14, 2008 By Yuji Nishikawa The government and the ruling coalition have begun coordinating views for giving up on a plan to submit a second supplementary budget to the current Diet session, and the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan has consequently lost a chance to bring down its fist. The party was prepared to put up do-or-die resistance following the prime minister's decision to push back dissolving the Lower House. But now that a critical phase is over, the atmosphere in the Diet is ONE of running out the clock. With DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa remaining reluctant to hold a party-head debate, the current session is likely to end without drama. DPJ Deputy President Naoto Kan in a press conference yesterday criticized Prime Minister Aso's political stance, saying: "He is clinging to the prime minister's post and power without implementing policies or carrying out an election. Everything is based on a clear explanation by the prime minister about that fact." The DPJ's logic is that if the government decides to give up on plans to submit a supplementary budget to ensure the fixed-sum payout program to the current Diet session and to extend the Diet session, that would conflict with the prime minister's declaration prioritizing policy over a Lower House dissolution. DPJ Upper House Caucus Chairman Azuma Koshiishi has indicated that his party will continue to attack the government and the ruling bloc even after the current session at out-of-session meetings and other occasions, saying, "There will be plenty of venues to grill them." But without an extension of the Diet session, such venues will be limited. The remaining venue for a showdown would be a party-head debate between Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ozawa. But Azuma commented: "The question is if there are themes appropriate for a TOKYO 00003146 010 OF 012 party-head debate. Mr. Ozawa is reluctant to have such a debate unless there is a sound reason." There are no prospects for a party-head debate due to Ozawa's circumstances. 14) LDP factions see no need to extend Diet session TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) November 14, 2008 Many factions in the Liberal Democratic Party held their general meetings yesterday. In those sessions, member after member voiced their support for a policy course to give up on a plan to submit a fiscal 2008 second supplementary budget to the current Diet session and end the session, as planned, without extending it. In the Machimura faction meeting, former Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa said emphatically: "The Diet session should be brought to a close as planned. It is important to make thorough preparations between the end of the year and the beginning of the New Year to make a restart in the New Year." At the Koga faction meeting, Diet Affairs Committee Principal Deputy Chairman Yoshitaka Murata reported: "At present, things are underway based on the plan to close the Diet on Nov. 30." Former Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki indicated to the faction he heads that it would be inadvisable to extend the session, saying: "Unless the DPJ cooperates (in deliberations),it is best to bring the session to a close without extending it." The prevailing view in the party is that the supplementary budget should be presented at the beginning of the next regular Diet session. Upper House Diet Affairs Committee Principal Deputy Chairman Masashi Waki said: "(Given no prospects for enactment),it is meaningless to submit it only for form's sake. We should present it at the outset of the regular Diet session (next year)." 15) Ten thousand workers lost jobs in a month: Corporate downsizing in manufacturing sector serious in October TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) November 14, 2008 Tokyo Shimbun learned on November 13 that more than ten thousand workers lost their jobs in October as a result of major industrial restructuring in the manufacturing sector. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) reported the data the same day to the Upper House Committee on Welfare and Labor. Though detailed monthly figures are not available, the MHLW noted that an increasing number of workers are losing jobs as a result of corporate downsizing in the manufacturing sector. The statistics endorsed that a recession in the wake of the global financial crisis is having a serious impact on employment as well. Given the breakdown, 18 cases involving large-scale dismissals of dispatched workers, contract-based workers and temporary workers took place in the form of discontinuation of the renewal of contracts and dismissal before the expiration of contracts, resulting in the severance of a total of 4,940 workers. In 35 cases with each involving the dismissal of more than 100 permanent and temporary workers, a total of approximately 6,300 workers lost jobs. TOKYO 00003146 011 OF 012 Those figures are tallies of figures labor departments throughout the nation reported to the MHLW, after they confirmed the dismissals of large numbers of workers. According to the MHLW, in October 14 prefectures reported on the dismissals of dispatched workers and contract-based workers on such a scale and 17 prefectures on the dismissals of regular and part-time workers. 16) JCG officials not to board whaling ships this fiscal year MAINICHI (Page 25) (Full) November 14, 2008 The Fisheries Agency has decided not to ask the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) to assign patrol officials to vessels bound for the Southern Ocean for research whaling. JCG officials boarded whaling ships last fiscal year for the first time at the request of the Fisheries Agency. The aim was to contain acts of obstruction by such anti-whaling groups as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SS) of the U.S. The JCG officials produced some achievements in this mission, including the recording of illegal acts by Sea Shepherd, but they failed to prevent acts of obstruction themselves. The Fisheries Agency and the JCG are considering alternative preventive measures. According to informed sources, this fiscal year's research vessels are ready to set sail shortly. The JCG has already picked officials to be dispatched to the research vessels, but the Fisheries Agency has decided not to make a request. The Fisheries Agency has entrusted research whaling in the Southern Ocean to the Institute of Cetacean Research. In fiscal 2007, six vessels left ports on Nov. 12 and 18. It was the second time that JCG officials traveled aboard ships other than patrol ones outside Japanese territorial waters, following the case of the plutonium transport ship Akatsuki-maru in 1992. SS members obstructed whaling operations of Japanese whalers by throwing bottles of fluid chemicals and boarding the ship. As a result, the ships caught only 60 PERCENT of the targeted number regarding minke whales and no fin whales. Photos of a JCG official throwing a warning ball were distributed across the world. A person concerned said: "The aim of anti-whaling groups is to demonstrate their presence. It is feared that such groups may use the boarding of JCG officials to deteriorate the image of whaling." Another observer commented: "It was found through the experience we had last year that even if JCG members board ships, there will not necessarily be the effect to prevent acts of obstruction." No ships to be dispatched by Greenpeace this fiscal year A representative from Greenpeace, an international organization to protect the environment, held a press conference in Tokyo yesterday and said that the group will not dispatch ships aimed to watch whaling operations in the Southern Ocean this fiscal year. Wakao Hanaoka, representing Greenpeace, indicated that the group would pour its energy into activities in the nation, saying: "In our past activities of protect, we collected enough evidence, including many photos, that (whaling activities) have destroyed the environment." Greenpeace have caused much trouble, obstructing whaling activities by ships dispatched to watch Japanese whaling. TOKYO 00003146 012 OF 012 SCHIEFFER