TMCnet News
Kyodo news summary -5-+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, April 19_(Kyodo) _ ---------- Seoul demands Tokyo immediately drop maritime survey plan SEOUL - South Korea on Wednesday demanded that Japan immediately drop its plan to conduct a maritime survey near a group of disputed isles in the Sea of Japan, while leaving the door open for bilateral negotiations if the plan is scrapped. "If Japan goes ahead with the survey in South Korea's exclusive economic zone, the government will deal with sternly in accordance with international law and domestic laws," Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon said after a security policy meeting convened by President Roh Moo Hyun. ---------- Graffiti found on nat'l treasure building at Horyuji Temple in Nara NARA, Japan - Graffiti have been found on a pillar of a building designated a national treasure at Horyuji Temple in Nara Prefecture, police said. The graffiti, including one that said "I love everybody" in Japanese, are thought to have been scratched on the pillar with a stone or something similarly hard. ---------- Civic groups oppose conspiracy bill prior to Diet deliberations TOKYO - Civic groups voiced opposition Wednesday to a proposed bill to recognize conspiracy as a crime even without actual actions, saying it would heavily restrict their daily activities for human rights, the environment and peace. In a meeting by the groups at the Diet building, Makoto Teranaka from Amnesty International Japan said, "If the conspiracy bill is approved, even making a plea for better governmental policies could become a crime as it could be considered an obstruction of business." ---------- Australia, N.Z. to deploy troops to Solomon Islands SYDNEY - Prime Minister John Howard said Wednesday that Australia will send troops to the Solomon Islands to restore order after a night of violence in the capital Honiara, while New Zealand said it will also send its troops there. Howard told reporters that soldiers would be immediately deployed from a Townsville base in Queensland. ---------- Tokyo wants Seoul to 'understand' survey near disputed isles TOKYO - Japan called on South Korea on Wednesday to "understand" its planned maritime survey near a group of disputed isles in the Sea of Japan. "There is no problem in terms of international law that we conduct a scientific maritime survey within our country's exclusive economic zone," Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said at a press conference. |