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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 004248 
 
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: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 09/12/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
MSDF refueling mission: 
4) Eight cases since 2001 of mostly piracy encounters by 
multinational forces in Indian Ocean underscore effectiveness of 
blocking terrorist transit 
5) US rear admiral: "Even if MSDF discontinues refueling mission, it 
would be manageable," but stresses significance of participation in 
coalition 
6) Pakistani Navy can operate with oil supplied by other countries 
than Japan: MSDF Chief of Staff Admiral Yoshikawa 
7) Cabinet backs Prime Minister Abe's resolve to continue MSDF's 
refueling mission 
8) New bill to replace anti-terror law would be limited to MSDF 
supplying oil and water, will likely be adopted by the cabinet on 
Sept. 21 
9) DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) President Ozawa reiterates 
opposition to any form of anti-terror legislation 
10) DPJ plans to pursue LDP in Diet on charge that MSDF refueled US 
ships heading toward Iraq 
11) DPJ asks for 45 documents related to MSDF refueling mission, 
will file censure motion if new anti-terror mission is re-passed by 
Lower House 
 
Diet agenda: 
12) LDP to delay introducing bill to reform political funds control 
system 
13) DPJ to introduce three bills to extra Diet session: pension 
reform, political funds reform, and scrapping the Iraq 
reconstruction law 
14) DPJ refuses to meet with ruling party officials to discuss 
legislation; Only concentrating on fight in the Diet 
 
15) DPJ to ready candidates for Lower House election by the end of 
the year 
 
16) Japan is replenishing IAEA funds with 57 million yen 
contribution that will include covering inspections in North Korea 
 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Municipal education boards reluctant to make public results of 
nationwide academic achievement tests at local elementary, junior 
high schools 
 
Mainichi: 
Board of Audit to scrutinize Social Insurance Agency over pension 
embezzlement by its employees 
 
Yomiuri: 
50 PERCENT  of law schools in survey call for reviewing current 
system allowing law school teachers to make bar exam questions 
 
Nikkei: 
 
TOKYO 00004248  002 OF 011 
 
 
Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy to formulate new strategies to 
revitalize local economies 
 
Sankei: 
MSDF-fueled coalition forces halted eight cases, mostly piracies, in 
Indian Ocean; Terrorist groups unable to move 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Only 62 PERCENT  of hospitals able to prove around-the-clock 
emergency care for children 
 
Akahata: 
Government to introduce new legislation to continue MSDF refueling 
mission for US vessels 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) SDF dispatch not requiring Diet approval raises questions about 
democracy 
(2) Taxi fares must be liberalized 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Tax reform postponed: Diet must not forget fiscal 
reconstruction 
(2) Japan loses key seat on International Judo Federation 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Law revision should help stamp out drunk driving 
(2) Financial Instruments Trade Law: Customers should always come 
first 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) APEC declaration raises questions about reducing emissions 
(2) Prefectural offices also breeding ground for pension 
embezzlement 
 
Sankei: 
(1) DPJ President Ozawa must keep door open for talks on 
Antiterrorism Law 
(2) Social Insurance Agency must complete checks on pension records 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Future of nation's economy gloomy 
(2) Emergency quake warning system not almightily 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Citizens must play central role in Higashi Osaka mayoral race 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, September 11 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 12, 2007 
 
09:33 
Met at the Kantei with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano and Deputy 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Ono. Followed by former Defense Vice 
Minister Moriya. Later met incoming and outgoing Vice Agriculture 
Ministers Shirasu and Kobayashi. 
 
 
TOKYO 00004248  003 OF 011 
 
 
10:02 
Attended a cabinet meeting. Met Internal Affairs and Communications 
Minister Masuda. Followed by Election Bureau Director General Suga. 
 
12:03 
Attended a meeting of the government and ruling camp liaison 
conference. Later, met Secretary General Aso. 
 
13:10 
Met New Komeito President Ota. Followed by former Secretary General 
Nakagawa. 
 
14:37 
Met Tax Research Council Chairman Tsushima. 
 
17:25 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) MSDF-fueled coalition forces interdicted eight times, mostly 
piracies, in Indian Ocean; Terrorist groups unable to move through 
area 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Full) 
September 12, 2007 
 
The coalition forces composed of 11 countries, including the United 
States and Britain, which have been engaged in operations in the 
Indian Ocean as part of the antiterrorism operations in and near 
Afghanistan have interdicted eight times, including piracies, over 
five-and-a-half years' time, a Japan-US military source revealed 
yesterday. Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has been providing 
naval vessels of those countries with water and fuel under the 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. The fruits of the coalition 
forces remained unclear. The revealed cases have proven that the 
MSDF mission has actually contributing to safety in the Indian 
Ocean. 
 
Following 9/11, forces of the United States, Britain and other 
countries launched the antiterrorism operations in and near 
Afghanistan. Islamic militants have reportedly been transporting 
drugs and weaponry and ammunition via Iran from Afghanistan and 
Pakistan or via the Indian Ocean. In order to block the transport of 
such materials that could result in terrorism, naval vessels of 11 
countries, including the United States, Britain and France, have 
been engaged in activities to inspect and seize terrorist-related 
ships in the Indian Ocean. 
 
Enacting the Antiterrorism Law in October 2001, Japan has sent MSDF 
supply ships and a destroyer to the Indian Ocean. Japan's services 
to provide fuel and water to naval vessels and helicopters in the 
Indian Ocean have won high recognition internationally. But actual 
results accomplished by the foreign vessels have not been made 
public for such reasons as that revelation might undermine the 
deterrence against terrorism or that they are connected with 
intelligence. This is the first time that specific achievements have 
been disclosed. 
 
According to the Japan-US military source, a large part of the eight 
cases cracked by this past June was piracy against tankers, 
commercial ships and fishing boats that did not involve any Islamic 
terrorist groups, such as the Al Qaeda and Taliban. This seems to 
show that activities by the coalition forces and MSDF have been 
 
TOKYO 00004248  004 OF 011 
 
 
serving as deterrence against the maritime movement of terrorists. 
 
5) US rear admiral: "Even if MSDF discontinues refueling mission, it 
would be manageable," but stresses significance of participation in 
coalition 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
September 12, 2007 
 
Furumoto, Manama (Bahrain) 
 
Senior officers from the Coalition of the Willing responded to an 
interview with the Mainichi Shimbun and other news companies on the 
morning of Sept. 11, local time, at the US Navy 5th Fleet 
Headquarters. In Japan, deliberations on the issue of whether to 
extend the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law will soon start full 
swing in the current extraordinary Diet session. These officers 
expressed their expectations for the continuation of the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling mission. 
 
United States Naval Forces Central Command Deputy Commander Rear 
Admiral Swift said: "If the MSDF discontinues refueling services, it 
will bring a major loss, but we will be able to cope," adding: "The 
real problem is that Japan would no longer play a role (in the 
Coalition of the Willing)." He thus stressed the significance of 
Japan's participation in the coalition, rather than the contents of 
its operations themselves. 
 
Pakistani Navy Commodore Hasham, who serves as commander for the 
task force which MSDF troops has joined, stated: "If the MSDF 
discontinues its mission, the Pakistani Navy will suffer the most 
serious damage. Operations by our task force's naval vessels are 
expected to decline by about 40 PERCENT ." 
 
Hasham, though, indicated that the Pakistani Navy would not stop its 
operations immediately even if Japan withdraws MSDF troops. He said: 
"We must take responsibility over the long run to maintain the 
security of this region." 
 
6) Pakistani Navy can operate with oil supplied by other countries 
than Japan 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
September 12, 2007 
 
It has been learned that Pakistani naval ships are highly considered 
to be able to operate even with oil supplied by other countries than 
Japan, such as the United States, although it has been said that 
high-quality fuel supplied by Japan is necessary for Pakistan's 
operations. This view apparently contradicts an explanation by the 
Japanese and US governments and will destroy one of the grounds for 
Japan's dispatch of Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) troops. This 
also might have some impact on Diet deliberations on new legislation 
designed to extend the MSDF mission 
 
In a press conference yesterday, MSDF Chief of Staff Admiral Eiji 
Yoshikawa said: "I do not think Pakistani ships cannot operate with 
fuel of other countries than Japan," adding that supplies by other 
participant countries than Japan, such as the US, should be 
"basically possible." 
 
Yoshikawa emphasized the high quality of fuel supplied by the MSDF, 
 
TOKYO 00004248  005 OF 011 
 
 
saying: "It is our policy to provide very clear oil by using a fuel 
cleaning device." But he also said: "(Other refueling vessels) also 
install a fuel cleaning device." 
 
A former Japan Defense Agency chief explained why the US wants Japan 
to continue to provide Pakistan with oil: "It is free. In addition, 
the Pakistani people would be upset if their navy were to receive 
oil from the US." 
 
In an interview with the Asahi Shimbun on Aug. 3, US Ambassador to 
Japan Schieffer called on Japan to continue refueling operations, 
remarking: "High-quality oil is necessary for Pakistani Navy 
destroyers. Unless Japan joins the operations, there may be some 
effect on the ongoing Pakistani operations." 
 
Foreign Ministry's Vice Minister Shotaro Yachi also said in an 
interview on Sept. 10: 
 
"To put them in the terms of automobiles, Pakistani Navy vessels 
need high-octane gasoline. Only SDF refueling vessels can provide 
it. If Japan discontinues refueling service, it will become 
difficult (for Pakistan) to continue operations." 
 
7) Continuation of MSDF refueling operations: Prime minister seeks 
solidarity; Cabinet ministers support his staking premiership on 
issue 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 12, 2007 
 
Regarding the terrorist attacks on the US, which marked the 6th 
anniversary yesterday, Minister Shinzo Abe during a liaison council 
meeting between the government and the ruling parties held the same 
day stressed, "A large number of people from various countries 
engaged in international contribution activities in Afghanistan died 
in terrorist attacks. The fight against terrorism is continuing. It 
is one of the top agenda items that should be dealt with by 
countries throughout the world." 
 
He then sought solidarity between the government and the ruling bloc 
for Diet passage during the current session of a bill allowing the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) to continue refueling operations 
in the Indian Ocean. He noted: "In order for Japan to live up to 
great expectations that it contribute to the peace and security of 
the international community, it is imperative for it to continue the 
operations." 
 
In response, New Komeito Chairman Akihiro Ota came around to Abe's 
stance, saying, "The MSDF's activities are based on a United Nations 
resolution. They should be continued for the sake of Japan's 
national interest." However, he also added, "Public understanding is 
not sufficient. The government needs to make efforts to gain 
understanding from the public." 
 
Following Abe's statement that he would stake his premiership on the 
continuation of the MSDF refueling operations, a number of cabinet 
ministers supported his resolve in press conferences held the same 
day. 
 
State Minister in charge of Financial and Administrative Reform 
Yoshimi Watanabe praised Abe's resolve, noting, "The prime minister 
indicated his indomitable resolve. It was graceful of him." To a 
 
TOKYO 00004248  006 OF 011 
 
 
question that the prime minister could lose his power base, he 
replied: "On the contrary, he will strengthen his power base. His 
statement carries special weight. It is a very serious thing for 
politicians to make such a statement." 
 
Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama said, "I do not take it as an 
indication of his resignation." He explained, "The prime minister is 
a very pure person. I interpret it that he made that statement 
because of his perception on his commitment to the international 
community and the heavy responsibility he bears." 
 
8) New antiterrorism legislation that will limit the MSDF's mission 
to supply of oil, water likely to get cabinet approval, possibly on 
Sept. 21 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
September 12, 2007 
 
The government yesterday sketched out new legislation to replace the 
current Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. This new bill will be 
approved at a cabinet meeting possibly on Sept. 21. This bill will 
limit the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) operations in the 
Indian Ocean to the supply of oil and water to vessels from 11 
countries, including the United States and Britain. The bill will be 
temporary legislation with a one- or two-year term time limit. All 
missions will be in detail specified in the bill, so the bill will 
have no stipulation requiring the government to obtain Diet approval 
of the MSDF's activities. At a press briefing yesterday, Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano indicated a plan to submit the bill 
to the Diet after both houses' budget committees' meetings, which 
are to occur sometime between Sept. 18 and Sept. 20. The 
government's and the ruling coalition's plan is that if the bill is 
rejected by the Upper House, which the opposition bloc now controls, 
they will again put the bill to a vote in the Lower House and 
approve it. 
 
Until recently the government and the ruling parties had prepared a 
bill extending the current Antiterrorism Law, which stipulates that 
the term of the MSDF deployment is to expire on Nov. 1. But the 
opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 
Minshuto), have made clear their opposition to the bill, so the 
government and the ruling bloc have now judged it will be difficult 
to revise the law before its expiration. As a result, they turned 
around their previous policy and decided to come up with a new 
bill. 
 
9) DPJ's Ozawa declares opposition to new antiterror legislation in 
strongly forestalling the government's move for revote 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
September 12, 2007 
 
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ or Minshuto) 
President Ichiro Ozawa held a press briefing yesterday at party 
headquarters and referred to new legislation the government and the 
ruling coalition are considering submitting to the current Diet 
session as a replacement of the current Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law.  Arguing, "The Self-Defense Forces' (SDF) support for 
the US forces obviously means exercising the right to collective 
self-defense. Whatever sophistry the government may use, this does 
not change," Ozawa declared his intention to oppose new 
legislation. 
 
TOKYO 00004248  007 OF 011 
 
 
 
The government and the ruling coalition are hinting that if the DPJ 
votes down the new legislation in the Upper House, they will again 
put it to a vote in the Lower House and approve it by a two-thirds 
majority. In this regard, Ozawa noted, "The results of the July 
Upper House election are the expression of the public's will. 
Politicians must recognize it properly." In addition, Ozawa strongly 
attempted to forestall the move by the government and the ruling 
parties, saying, "This is a matter of insight of the person in 
power." 
 
Some in the opposition bloc are insisting that the option of 
submitting a censure motion against the prime minister should be 
considered if the ruling bloc adopts the bill by re-voting, on the 
grounds that it has ignored public opinion. But Ozawa avoided 
commenting on this matter, noting, "It's too early to mention a 
censure motion. No one can tell what will happen in the days 
ahead." 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has proposed holding a one-on-one meeting 
with Ozawa to discuss how to deal with new legislation, but Ozawa 
indicated he was negative about that proposal, saying, "We should 
make it a rule to have talks in an open manner." 
 
10) DPJ to pursue government over suspicions for MSDF's refueling US 
vessels engaged in operations in Iraq 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
September 12, 2007 
 
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 
yesterday decided to call on the government to present internal 
documents concerning the actual state of the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's (MSDF) refueling operations in the Indian Ocean and if the 
DPJ judges the documents are insufficient, it will propose 
exercising the right to investigate state affairs. The DPJ is 
suspecting that the MSDF might have refueled US vessels heading for 
Iraq to be engaged in the campaign there by deviating from the 
purpose of the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. The DPJ will urge 
the government to disclose details of the refueling activities, such 
as the names of vessels, their missions, and the locations of 
refueling. By pursuing the government about the suspicions that the 
refueling operations might have been linked to the Iraq campaign, 
the DPJ aims to seek the public's understanding about its opposition 
to continuing the refueling mission. 
 
Bolstered by the fact that it is now the first party in the Upper 
House, the DPJ intends to repeatedly call on the government to 
disclose information. 
 
In debate in the Diet regarding an extension of the refueling 
operations, the DPJ will give the first priority to investigation 
into the allegation that the MSDF might have refueled vessels 
heading for Iraq. By using a preliminary investigation the Lower 
House's research bureau will conduct at the request by at least 40 
Lower House members, the DPJ will call for disclosure of (1) names 
of vessels that received refueling, (2) their missions and 
operations after refueling, and (3) locations of refueling. If the 
government's answers to these questions are not satisfactory, the 
DPJ will then exercise the right to investigate state affairs at the 
Upper House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense and demand in 
accordance with Article 104 of the Diet Law that the government 
 
TOKYO 00004248  008 OF 011 
 
 
should disclose records. 
 
House of Representatives member Kenji Eda (independent) pointed out 
this suspicion based on his survey of the US Naval Forces Central 
Command/US 5th Fleet's website. In a document entitled "Operation 
Iraqi Freedom" posted on the website, there was the passage saying 
that "The Japanese government has contributed 86,629,675 gallons of 
oil worth 76 million dollars." This passage, however, was deleted 
afterwards. 
 
The Japanese government denied Eda's allegation with Defense 
Minister Komura arguing, "He misread it." The government has 
explained that Japan has refueled vessels from the United States and 
other countries taking part in operations that are part of 
"Operation Enduring Freedom," which means the war in Afghanistan. 
But the government has not given any detailed explanation about the 
actual state of US forces' activities. In a question-and-answer 
session in the Upper House in April 2005, then Defense Agency 
Director-General Yoshinori Ono, when asked whether oil provided by 
Japan would be used for the Iraq operations, answered, "It's 
difficult to identify the oil provided." This reply has been taken 
by some in the DPJ as implying the possibility that oil provided by 
Japan may have been used for the Iraq war. 
 
Considering these circumstances, the DPJ has insisted that 
information available to the public is very limited. On Sept. 10, 
the DPJ's House of Councilors member Kun Hakushin rendered a written 
inquiry to the government asking, "Has Japan provided anything to 
other countries' vessels whose major missions are to take part in 
the operations in Iraq?" 
 
11) DPJ eyes censure motion if ruling camp resorts to Lower House 
revote on new antiterrorism law 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 12, 2007 
 
The Diet will kick off a full debate between the ruling and 
opposition camps today, starting with representative interpellations 
on Prime Minister Abe's policy speech. In the House of Councillors, 
the opposition holds a majority. Under such a situation, the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) tried to shake the Abe 
administration yesterday, implying a possible submission of a 
censure resolution and an exercise of its investigative power in 
national politics. 
 
The government and the ruling camp plan to submit a bill for a new 
law to replace the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which expires 
Nov. 1. In this connection, DPJ Upper House Secretary General Kenji 
Hirata said in a press conference yesterday: "If the ruling camp 
readopts the bill with two-thirds approval (in the House of 
Representatives) over public opposition, public criticism of the 
ruling parties will inevitably grow stronger. The ruling parties 
should not resort to this means." Asked if the DPJ file a censure 
motion against the prime minister if the ruling camp re-passes the 
bill in the Lower House, Hirata said: "We naturally should have this 
possibility in mind." 
 
12) LDP put on hold submission of bill amending Political Fund 
Control Law due to deep-seated cautious view on attaching receipts 
for expenditures topping 1 yen 
 
 
TOKYO 00004248  009 OF 011 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
September 12, 2007 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership yesterday decided not 
to submit to the current Diet session a bill to further amend the 
Political Fund Control Law intended to introduce a stricter standard 
mandating the attaching of receipts for expenditures over 1 yen. It 
has instead started looking into the possibility of submitting it in 
the next regular Diet session or later. Its judgment is that given a 
cautious view on the idea deep-rooted in the party, it would be 
difficult to unify views of party members before the Diet session 
ends. The move is bound to expose the LDP's inability to come up 
with a specific proposal on its politics and money problem, one 
factor for the crushing defeat of the party in the July Upper House 
election. 
 
Following the defeat in the Upper House election, the former 
leadership has drafted an amendment to the Political Fund Control 
Law that would obligate political organizations involving 
politicians to attach receipts for operational expenditures 
(excluding personnel expenses) topping 1 yen. However, a large 
number of party members are cautious about the idea. Secretary 
General Taro Aso during a press briefing on Sept. 4 indicated his 
intention to undertake further coordination of views. He noted, "We 
must sort out views of party members once more and work them out 
properly." 
 
13) DPJ to submit three bills to Upper House, giving up alternative 
antiterrorism legislation 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Slightly abridged) 
September 12, 2007 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided yesterday to submit to 
the current extraordinary Diet session a bill to ban the use of 
pension premiums to other purposes than pension benefits, a bill to 
revised the Political Funds Control Law requiring politicians to 
attach to their fund reports receipts for expenditures one yen or 
more, and a bill to rescind the Iraq Reconstruction Special Measures 
Law. The three bills will be submitted to the House of Councillors, 
which is now controlled by the opposition camp. The largest 
opposition party, however, decided not to submit legislation to 
assist for the Afghan people's livelihood as an alternate to the 
current Antiterrorism Law, even though the party had planned such. 
 
The aim is to gear up to go on the offensive in Diet debate on the 
pension issue and politics-and-money scandals, which were main 
causes for the DPJ's big win in the July House of Councillors 
election. 
 
The pension bill stipulates that pension premiums would be used only 
for benefits and administrative fees and other expenses would be 
paid by national coffers. The bill will be re-submitted to the 
ongoing session since it was scrapped at the August extraordinary 
session. The DPJ has judged that the public still have a strong 
interest in the pension issue since irregularities have been 
discovered in succession. 
 
The DPJ confirmed yesterday in a meeting of its Political Reform 
Promotion Headquarters the submission of the bill revising the 
Political Funds Control Law, aiming at highlighting the difference 
with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition 
 
TOKYO 00004248  010 OF 011 
 
 
partner New Komeito, which are reluctant about attaching to 
political fund reports receipts for every item costing one yen or 
more. 
 
Regarding providing aid to the Afghan people, which the DPJ has been 
considering as an alternative measure to the extension of the 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, based on which the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force has carried out its refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa rejected the possibility of 
presenting such a bill in a press conference yesterday. He said: "I 
wonder why a bill is needed to assist the people's livelihood." The 
main opposition party intends to emphasize its stance of criticizing 
the Abe administration's entire foreign policy by submitting a bill 
to scrap the Iraq reconstruction assistance special measures law. 
 
14) DPJ refuses to hold consultations with ruling coalition 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Slightly abridged) 
September 12, 2007 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has decided to refuse any 
requests from the government and ruling coalition to hold 
consultations on an extension of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling operation in the Indian Ocean. Chances are slim that the 
DPJ will agree to an extension of the MSDF's refueling operation. 
The possibility is extremely low that new legislation to continue 
the MSDF's mission will be passed through the Diet amicably. 
 
The government and ruling camp aim to reach agreement on this issue 
with the DPJ thorough negotiations. Some in the government and 
ruling coalition are calling for holding working-level consultations 
between the ruling and opposition camps. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 
expressed his expectations for direct talks with DPJ President 
Ichiro Ozawa. 
 
At a press briefing yesterday, however, Ozawa revealed that he would 
not hold any party-head talks, saying: "We will be able to hold 
debate at the Diet. I think consultations at the committees and 
other occasions should be open to the public." 
 
The DPJ has determined that if it holds consultations with the 
government and ruling parties, the public will see them as murky 
negotiations. Therefore, the main opposition party has decided to 
respond to Diet deliberations, refusing both the party-head talks 
and the working-level consultations. 
 
15) DPJ to pick candidates for next Lower House election in this 
month 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
September 12, 2007 
 
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided 
yesterday to hold a meeting on Oct. 5 of the secretaries general of 
its prefectural chapters, expecting that the House of 
Representatives may be dissolved before the end of this year and a 
snap election called. The DPJ will pick candidates for the next 
Lower House election within September and the party leadership will 
replace candidates whom it judges have no chance to win. 
 
Election Campaign Committee Chairman Hirotaka Akamatsu issued on 
Sept. 10 instructions to the prefectural chapters, in which he 
 
TOKYO 00004248  011 OF 011 
 
 
instructed them to complete the selection of candidates by Sept. 30. 
Of the 300 single-seat constituencies, the party has yet to field 
candidates for 79 electoral districts. The party headquarters will 
file those the party picked thorough advertisement as candidates in 
constituencies in which no candidate has not been fielded. 
 
Akamatsu sent instructions on Sept. 30 to incumbent Lower House 
members and candidates-to-be calling on them to (1) increase 
supporters and strengthen relations with their supporting 
organizations, (2) boost street activities and exchanges with 
voters, and (3) increase posters, party members, and supporters. 
 
16) Japan to disburse 57 million yen to IAEA for monitoring North 
Korea 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
September 12, 2007 
 
The Japanese government during an IAEA board meeting held on Sept. 
11 announced a plan to disburse 500,000 dollars (approximately 57 
million yen) for the monitoring and inspection of nuclear activities 
in North Korea. The US, which had pledged the disbursement of 
513,000 dollars at the emergency board meeting in July, also 
released a plan to extend another 1.8 billion dollars. The IAEA has 
calculated that the monitoring and inspection activities would need 
1.7 million euro or approximately 268 million yen for the first year 
and 2.2 million euro for the second year and asked its member 
nations for additional contributions. 
 
As of Sept. 11, only Japan and the US have pledged to disburse funds 
for the monitoring and inspection activities by the IAEA. The 
European Union noted in the meeting that it would look into such a 
possibility. 
 
The funds will be used for the purchases of monitoring equipment and 
the cost of dispatching IAEA personnel to continue monitoring and 
inspection activities at Yongbyon facilities in North Korea. 
 
The Japanese government had announced a policy of not providing any 
aid, including energy aid, as long as the abduction issue remains 
unsettled. It takes the stand that since the measure this time is 
intended to contribute for the IAEA's monitoring and inspection 
activities, it does not fall under direct assistance to North 
Korea. 
 
SCHIEFFER