速報

スーチーさんが訪問したＨＩＶ患者収容施設内の収容患者たちに対する立ち退去命令が撤回されました。
これを機にビルマが一歩でも深く民主国家の仲間入りをすることを願います。
過去数十年の流れを見れば、これは画期的なことだということができます。
ビルマはすでに民主化へ向けて舵（かじ）を切っていると確信します。
翻訳は意訳です。（スラチャイ）

cite from the independent world,

Burma gives HIV patients a reprieve from eviction
ビルマ政府、ＨＩＶ患者たちの施設外退去命令を撤回

By a correspondent in Rangoon
Friday, 26 November 2010

Authorities in military-ruled Burma gave a last-minute reprieve last night to HIV patients living in a shelter run by supporters of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, after earlier saying it had to be shut down.
ビルマ民主化運動の母、アウンサンスーチーさんの支持者らにより運営されるＨＩＶ患者収容施設に収容されている患者たちに対する施設外立ち退き命令は土壇場になってビルマ軍事政権により撤回された。（＼(＾▽＾)／）

Yarzar, one of the shelter's staff, said the authorities agreed last night to let the patients stay. Last week, local officials ordered the 80 patients to be moved by this week, saying without explanation that it would no longer approve the requests for overnight guests that are legally required.
収容施設のスタッフのヤーザーさんはこう語る。昨夜、政府の代表がやってきて患者たちの施設内滞在を許可してくれた。先週私たちは、８０名の収容施設内収容患者たち全員を今週中に施設外に退去させるように命令を受けていた。退去理由については明確な説明がなかったが、従来の滞在許可申請方式はもはや通用しないとだけ話していた。

The shelter's organizers believed the eviction threat was issued because Suu Kyi visited it just days after her 13 November release from extended house arrest, promising to help provide badly needed medicine. The ruling junta regards Suu Kyi and her non-violent struggle for democracy as a threat to its power.
収容所の運営者らはこう考えている。１１月１３日にスーチーさんが自宅軟禁を解除された直後に施設を訪問、治療薬が不足していて苦悩している患者たちを励ましたことが原因ではないかと。軍事政権は、このスーチーさんの非暴力的な民主化運動に対して大きな懸念を抱いていたのではないかと。

The conciliatory gesture has a hitch, however: the permits must be renewed each week, and there is no guarantee they will be.
毎週、ＨＩＶ患者たちの施設内居住許可申請をしなければならないのは以前と同じ。

Still, Yarzar said: "I am greatly relieved and so are the patients."
施設の管理人ヤーザーさんは、それでも患者たち、それと私は大変に安心させられました（救われました）。
（ここはビルマ軍事政権に対して素直な感謝の心を表すべきでしょう　by srachai）

The shelter's organizers, who are public supporters of Suu Kyi's political movement, said earlier that they would not send the patients away despite the threat of legal action.
民主化運動の母、スーチーさんを支持する収容所の運営者たちは、たとえ法廷闘争になろうと患者たちを施設外に退去させるわけにはいかないと話していた。

The state-run Myanma Ahlin newspaper said on Wednesday that health officials had inspected the shelter in July and August and found it to be unhygienic.
ビルマの国家新聞、ミヤンマーアーリン紙は水曜日こう発表した。７月､８月に行われた政府の保健所による収容施設内立ち入り検査ではこのＨＩＶ収容施設は不衛生である。

Health authorities had offered to relocate the patients to a state-run HIV centre but the patients refused to move, saying their shelter not only offered medical care, food and accommodation but "warmth and affection that no other centre can provide."
ビルマ政府の役人は、ＨＩＶ患者たちが国営のＨＩＶセンターに移動することを推奨している。患者たちはそれをこばんでいる。なぜって、スーチーさんの収容施設は治療薬や食べものがいただけるだけではなくって、他のどんなセンターも提供できない患者たちに対する暖かい思いやりの心で満ちているから。

職なき若者―構造的ミスマッチなくせ

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 25
EDITORIAL: 'Ice age' for job-hunters
職なき若者―構造的ミスマッチなくせ

Japanese university students graduating next spring face an extremely frosty job climate that is often described as a "super ice age."
　「超氷河期」という言葉さえ聞く。

The ratio of graduating students with job offers has fallen to a record low. This year, one in six students finished their studies to find themselves jobless new graduates. Next year stands to be even worse.
　来春卒業予定の大学生の就職内定率が、過去最低に落ち込んでいる。１年上の先輩たちは、６人に１人が進路が決まらぬまま大学を出て新卒未就業者となった。このままゆけば、もっと多くの無業の若者が生まれかねない。

Most students attend university with the hope of finding a worthwhile job to earn a livelihood and establish a foothold in society. The job crunch is blighting their hopes.
　大学で様々なことを学んだ後、やりがいのある仕事を見つけ、稼ぎを得て社会に足場を築く。そんな人生の予想図はもろくも崩れつつある。

Companies are tightening their hiring standards and often end their recruitment activities even before meeting their targets. The situation has created a growing inequality in access to employment between the so-called winning and losing groups.
　浮かび上がるのは勝ち組、負け組といわれるような就職格差の広がりだ。
　企業は厳選採用を進め、予定数に満たなくても採用活動を打ち切る。大企業のメガネにかなう人は奪い合いになる一方、受けては落ちることを繰り返し、追いつめられる学生がいる。

A recent survey of universities by the Japan Institute for Labor Policy and Training found that the proportion of students who graduated this spring without a job was 30 percent or higher at many new private universities and smaller institutions.
　労働政策研究・研修機構が各大学を調べたところ、今春の新卒未就業者が３割以上を占めたのは、新設の私大や小規模校が目立った。

Officials at university employment counseling centers say students who are having difficulty in finding work often don't know what kind of career they want to pursue and can't write effective job application forms.
大学の就職センター担当者は、「何をしたらいいかわからない」「企業に出すエントリーシートが書けない」といった点を学生の課題に挙げる。

Frustrated, a growing number of students are simply giving up on their job search.
途中で就職活動から降りてしまう学生も増えているという。

The economic downturn is not entirely to blame for the tough job market facing university graduates. These employment woes are an unfortunate combination of several structural factors that should be addressed.
　今の就職難を不況だけのせいにするのは間違いだ。それを超えた構造的な不運が学生たちを苦しめている。

The percentage of high school students enrolling in universities now exceeds 50 percent, up from 25 percent two decades ago.
　２０年前に２５％だった大学の進学率は５割を超え、多様な若者が学ぶようになった。

Despite this new diversity of students in universities, Japan's job market has not adjusted to the change.
だが、就職市場はそれに見合うものになっていない。

Universities today appear to be failing at their responsibility in educating students to help them identify career aspirations and preparing them to enter the work force.
何をすべきかつかめず、社会に出る準備が整わない若者を大学は無責任に送り出す。

The business community also has failed to devise a more flexible approach to hiring in line with changes in both the quality and quantity of students.
　経済界の方も、大卒者の質と量の変化に応じた多様で柔軟な採用のあり方を、示せていない。

A society that cannot offer hope for young people has no future. Every possible effort should be made to fix the problem.
　若者が希望を持てぬ社会に未来はない。打てるだけの手を打とう。

Job fairs jointly organized by small and medium-size companies seeking new graduates are gaining popularity.
　採用意欲のある中小企業を集めた合同説明会が盛んになってきた。

But have these efforts, intended to widen the perspective of students focused on landing a job at a large company and match them with smaller businesses, really produced the expected effects?
大企業志向の学生の視野を広げさせ、マッチングする試みは成果を上げているか。

Additionally, there has been little attention to fostering cooperation between universities and Hello Work job centers, which tend to be avoided by university students.
学生が敬遠しがちなハローワークと大学の連携は、まだ十分といえない。

How much effort have universities been making to take advantage of the series of job-creation measures adopted by the government to help graduates find work?
政府が矢継ぎ早に繰り出す雇用対策を卒業生につなぐよう、大学はどれだけフォローに努めているか。

Clearly, more should be done at the front line of support for young people in search of employment.
現場の工夫はなお必要だろう。

Then, there should be a society-wide campaign to correct the structural mismatch between school education and the job market.
　そのうえで、学校教育と産業社会の間で広がる構造的なミスマッチの是正に、社会を挙げて取り組むべきだ。

Career counseling to enable students to develop the mind-set needed to join the work force should be firmly incorporated into the education system.
　職業人となる意識を身につけさせるキャリア教育を、学校体系にきちんと位置づける。

As well, there should be multiple paths from university to the job market.
大学から職業へのコースは複線であるべきだ。

Companies, for their part, need to urgently improve their recruitment processes that undermine the purpose of university education to help students develop their own abilities. These processes have grown longer over years, forcing students to start job-hunting activities earlier in their college life.
Businesses should instead adopt a recruitment approach more focused on the academic achievements of students.
企業は大学の人材育成力を損なう就活の早期化・長期化を正し、学業の成果を問う採用に変える。

They should also break with the tradition of hiring graduates for full-time jobs all at once so that young job-seekers can have more than one chance to get hired.
何度かチャレンジできるよう新卒一括採用からも転換しよう。

The government, academic world and business community have begun discussions over this challenge.
　政府と大学、経済界の話し合いが始まった。

Instead of simply keeping up a front by announcing empty agreements or futile ethical codes, they need to come up with truly effective reforms.
守られぬ協定や倫理憲章でお茶を濁すことなく、実効性のある改革を打ち出さねばならない。

海上保安庁 領海警備の体制強化を急げ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 26, 2010)
Boost JCG ability to guard territorial waters
海上保安庁　領海警備の体制強化を急げ（11月25日付・読売社説）

The Sept. 7 collisions between a Chinese trawler and Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels in Japanese waters off the Senkaku Islands is a reminder of the importance of protecting this nation's waters. The ability of the JCG to guard this nation's territorial waters needs to be steadily reinforced.
　日本領海内の尖閣諸島沖で起きた中国漁船衝突事件は、領海警備の重要性を改めて浮き彫りにした。海上保安庁による警備体制を着実に強化していかなければならない。

Since the collisions, Beijing has frequently sent fishery patrol vessels to waters near the islands. Last weekend, China again made its presence known by having two patrol vessels sail close to the area. One vessel was a helicopter-equipped, state-of-the-art fishery patrol boat armed with machine guns.
　今回の衝突事件を機に中国は、漁業監視船を頻繁に尖閣諸島の近海に送り込んでいる。先週末も監視船２隻が領海近くまで接近するなど示威行動を取った。２隻のうち１隻はヘリを搭載し、機関砲を装備した最新型だ。

China is trying to boost its control over disputed waters in the South China Sea by dispatching armed fishery patrol boats under the pretext of protecting its fishing vessels. Beijing is possibly taking similar action in the East China Sea, too. Galvanizing the JCG's ability to patrol and guard Japan's waters is an urgent task.
　中国は南シナ海で、武装した漁業監視船を漁船保護の名目で派遣し、実効支配を強めようとしている。東シナ海でも、同様の動きに出ているのではないか。海保の監視・警戒体制の増強は急務だ。

Vessels too old

JCG has eight patrol ships and six smaller patrol boats based at the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Naha, which exercises control over waters near the islands. But some are showing their age and have reached the end of their useful life. Their hulls have corroded and they are too slow to perform their duties properly, among other shortcomings.
　海保は、尖閣諸島近海を管轄する第１１管区海上保安本部に巡視船８隻と、より小型の巡視艇６隻を配備しているが、中には耐用年数を超えた老朽船艇もある。

The JCG's activities will be seriously affected if the vessels remain in less-than-shipshape condition.
　船体の腐食や、速力不足など性能面の劣化が進み、このままでは業務にも支障が出かねない。

The JCG plans to replace 10 large patrol vessels that are particularly timeworn among the 87 vessels that have reached the end of their useful life. However, replacing these ships will take at least six years. We think this is too long. The JCG should build these new vessels faster.
　海保は、保有する船艇で耐用年数を超えている８７隻のうち、特に老朽著しい大型巡視船１０隻を新型と入れ替える計画だが、それが完了するのは早くて６年先という。あまりに悠長だ。新型船艇の建造を加速させるべきだ。

There also are problems in the communications systems between ships, airplanes and helicopters.
　船艇や航空機、ヘリなど相互の通信体制にも問題がある。

The JCG has not installed digital radio equipment that sends extremely secure transmission on all its vessels and aircraft. Some are still equipped only with analog radios, whose communications can reportedly be monitored by radios available on the market.
　秘匿性に優れたデジタル型無線機が行き渡らず、一部がアナログ型のため、市販の無線機で傍受可能という。

As things stand, JCG vessels and aircraft cannot share any important information with vessels of the Maritime Self-Defense Force. These communication systems must be upgraded as soon as possible.
これでは海上自衛隊の艦船と重要情報を共有できない。早急に一新する必要がある。

Legal framework needed

As Pyongyang's artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea, earlier this week showed, Japan must remain on guard against North Korea.
　韓国・延坪(ヨンピョン)島(ド)への砲撃事件をみても、北朝鮮に対する備えは怠るわけにいかない。

However, shortcomings in domestic laws that surfaced following two incidents involving North Korean spy ships about a decade ago remain uncorrected. Japan had to deal with the spy ships by invoking the Fisheries Law and other laws, as there was no legislation designed specifically to deal with violations of territorial waters.
　だが、２度の北朝鮮の工作船事件で表面化した国内法の不備は、依然として改まっていない。工作船事件では、領海侵犯そのものを取り締まる法律がないために、漁業法などを援用して対応せざるを得なかった。

A suprapartisan group of lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party are advocating the Territorial Sea Law be revised to make violating Japan's territorial waters an offense.
　民主、自民両党議員らで作る超党派の議員連盟は、領海法を改正して「領海侵犯罪」を創設するよう提言している。

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku indicated at a press conference he wants necessary domestic legal framework enacted more quickly. We think this is quite reasonable. The ruling and opposition parties should cooperate to get the relevant laws put in place.
仙谷官房長官も記者会見で、法整備を急ぐ考えを示した。当然だろう。与野党は協力して是正に動くべきだ。

Needless to say, it is also necessary to review the slipshod information management system that was exposed by a JCG officer's recent leaking of video footage showing the Chinese trawler ramming into the JCG vessels.
　海上保安官による衝突事件の映像流出問題で露呈した、杜撰(ずさん)な情報管理体制を見直すのは言うまでもない。

Fingers have been pointed at the JCG chain of command since the officer leaked the video without permission. The JCG must do more to ensure its officers maintain discipline.
一保安官が勝手に映像を流出させたことで、海上保安庁全体の指揮命令系統にも疑問符がついた。職員の綱紀粛正も併せて徹底しなければならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 25, 2010)
（2010年11月25日01時15分 読売新聞）

速報

私はスーチーさんが落ち込んでしまっていると考えておりました。
よかったですね。スーチーさん。
一昨日スーチーさんは息子さんとの再会を果たすことができました。
寛大な処置を施されたビルマ軍事政権に感謝の意を表します。
ほんとうにありがとうございます。

スラチャイ

●Today my son and I prayed at the Shwedagon Pagoda together. I can't reveal what I prayed for otherwise my wishes might bot be fulfilled.
about 7 hours ago via Tweetie for Mac .
本日、息子（キム・アリス氏）と私（スーチー女史）はシュエダゴンパゴダでお祈りしました。何をお願いしたのかは秘密です。秘密を打ち明けてしまうと、願い事が叶わないからです。

●I was finally able to see my youngest son Kim Aris yesterday. I met him at the airport in Rangoon.
about 7 hours ago via Tweetie for Mac
私（スーチー女史）はやっと昨日息子のキム・アリスと会うことができました。ラングーン空港で会うことが出来ました。

南北砲撃戦 北朝鮮の暴挙を強く非難する

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 25, 2010)
We condemn N. Korea's reckless attack on island
南北砲撃戦　北朝鮮の暴挙を強く非難する（11月24日付・読売社説）

North Korea's abrupt firing of artillery shells at an island where civilians live is a grave military provocation, which cannot be tolerated.
　民間人の住む島を突然砲撃するとは、重大な武力挑発である。断じて許せない。

The outrageous, reckless act, which could lead to a recurrence of war, is a clear violation of the 1953 armistice that halted the Korean War. We strongly criticize the act.
　戦争再発につながりかねない言語道断の暴挙であり、朝鮮戦争休戦協定への明白な違反だ。強く非難する。

In broad daylight on Tuesday afternoon, the North Korean military shelled Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea near the west coast of the Korean Peninsula. According to South Korea's announcement, at least two South Korean soldiers were killed in the incident. With black smoke billowing from several locations, local residents were forced to flee to shelters on the island or evacuate to the mainland.
　２３日の白昼、朝鮮半島の西側、黄海に浮かぶ韓国の延坪(ヨンピョン)島(ド)を、北朝鮮軍が砲撃した。韓国側の発表によると、少なくとも韓国軍兵士２人が死亡したほか、数か所から黒煙が立ち上り、住民は防空壕(ごう)や本土への避難を強いられた。

===

A sea of tension

The waters around Yeonpyeong Island are known as a sea of tension. Vessels from the two countries have frequently had confrontations and exchanged fire in the area because of a dispute over where to draw a military demarcation line in the sea.
　延坪島付近は、海上の軍事境界線をめぐっての合意がないため、これまで南北の艦船が幾度も衝突し、交戦してきた緊張の海域だ。

However, the latest incident was the first time since the two countries signed the Korean War truce that the island, with a civilian population of 2,000, has been shelled by North Korea.
しかし、朝鮮戦争の休戦以来、約２０００人の住民がいる島が砲撃されたことはなかった。

North Korea justified its attack in a statement issued by its supreme military command, saying it had "taken strong military action" immediately after South Korea fired dozens of shells into North Korean territory. South Korean forces were conducting military exercises near the disputed sea border.
　北朝鮮は最高司令部の声明で、韓国軍が北朝鮮領海内に砲撃してきたために「断固たる軍事的措置を取った」と、砲撃を正当化した。韓国軍はこの日、付近海域で軍事演習を行っていた。

But whatever excuses North Korea makes, its act of targeting civilians will not be forgiven. North Korea must make clear who is responsible and punish that individual.
　だが、北朝鮮がどんな言い訳をしようとも、民間人を狙った行為は、許されるものではない。責任の所在を明らかにし、責任者を処罰してしかるべきだ。

The shelling stopped, at least for the time being, after the South Korean military returned fire. However, it remains unknown what steps North Korea will take next. We should understand that the two countries are in a critical, touch-and-go situation.
　韓国軍が反撃し、戦火はひとまずやんだが、北朝鮮の出方は不透明だ。一触即発の危機は続いていると見なければなるまい。

In March, a South Korean Navy ship was sunk by a torpedo attack in waters in the area. North Korea denied it was responsible. This time, North Korea is quite clearly responsible for the shelling. But even if there are calls for retaliation in South Korea, we urge the South Korean government to firmly restrain itself and deal with the situation in a coolheaded manner.
　付近の海域では、３月に韓国の海軍哨戒艦が魚雷攻撃で撃沈されている。ましてや今回は、北朝鮮軍による歴然たる砲撃だ。報復を求める声があがるにせよ、韓国は、ここは強く自制し、冷静に対処してもらいたい。

===

Dynasty-building tactic?

The skirmish took place at a time when North Korea has begun substantial preparations for a succession at the pinnacle of its government. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's youngest son and heir apparent, Kim Jong Un, was named vice chairman of North Korea's Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea in September, paving the way for a transfer of power to a third generation of the family.
　北朝鮮で、３代世襲が本格化している中で、今回の砲撃事件は起きた。金正日総書記の後継者の金正恩氏が、党軍事委員会副委員長に就任したばかりである。

North Korea is believed to be undertaking a series of aggressive actions during the period of power transfer, aiming to consolidate the regime's power base by reinforcing support from the military.
　この権力移行期に好戦的な行動を繰り返すのは、軍部の支持を得て権力基盤を固める狙いがあるのだろう。

The international community must stay alert against North Korea, which possesses nuclear weapons and has intensified its belligerent stance.
核兵器を持ち、好戦的な姿勢を強める北朝鮮に、国際社会は警戒を怠るべきではない。

Recently, North Korea has made every effort to attract international attention through various activities, such as construction of a light-water reactor, disclosure of its uranium enrichment activities and moves believed to be preparations for its third nuclear test.
　北朝鮮はこのところ、軽水炉の建設、ウラン濃縮活動の公開、３回目の核実験の準備と見られる動きなどによって、国際社会の注意をひくのに腐心している。

These moves are presumably intended to lead to one-on-one negotiations with the United States. But the latest incident, which broke out while Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special envoy on North Korea, was visiting South Korea, Japan and China to discuss steps to be taken to deal with North Korea, is expected to lead to the opposite result.
　米朝協議の実現が狙いだろうが、米国の特別代表が韓国、日本、中国を訪れ、今後の対応を協議している最中に起きた砲撃事件は、逆の結果をもたらすだろう。

Japan, the United States and South Korea must take all possible steps to further bolster their cooperation in order to stop North Korea's military provocations.
　日米韓は、北朝鮮の軍事的な挑発を断固阻止するために、連携を一層強化する必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 24, 2010)
（2010年11月24日01時16分 読売新聞）

柳田法相更迭 政権の態勢を早急に立て直せ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 24, 2010)
Kan Cabinet must pull itself together
柳田法相更迭　政権の態勢を早急に立て直せ（11月23日付・読売社説）

Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida resigned Monday to take responsibility over his recent verbal gaffe, remarks that many interpreted as disrespectful of Diet deliberations. His resignation is widely seen as a de facto dismissal by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who has placed priority on trouble-free deliberations in the Diet to pass a fiscal 2010 supplementary budget. We think Kan's decision was reasonable.
　「国会軽視」と受け取られる軽率な発言の責任を取り、柳田稔法相が辞任した。菅首相が円滑な国会審議を優先したもので、事実上の更迭だ。当然の判断と言える。

Opposition parties were moving to submit a censure motion against the justice minister at the House of Councillors on Monday. Even if the motion had passed, it would not have been legally binding, but there was concern that passage of the motion might have significantly impeded Diet deliberations on the supplementary budget.
　野党は２２日中に参院に法相問責決議案を提出する構えを見せていた。決議案が可決されても、法的拘束力はないが、補正予算案審議が大幅に遅れる恐れがあった。

With the road to recovery for the Japanese economy still uncertain, the most urgent issue is swift approval and implementation of the supplementary budget. The prime minister must take advantage of Yanagida's dismissal to quickly re-create a situation in which his administration can implement policies.
　景気回復の道筋が不透明な中、補正予算案の早期成立・執行は最優先課題だ。菅首相は、法相更迭を機に、政策が遂行できる態勢を早急に立て直さねばならない。

Yanagida was quoted as saying at a Nov. 14 gathering of supporters in his constituency that he could get through Diet deliberations with only two phrases. One, he said, was: "I can't comment on a specific issue."
　柳田法相は１４日の地元会合で、「個別事案は答えを差し控える」など２通りの答弁で国会審議は切り抜けられると発言した。

Yanagida said at a Monday press conference held to announce his resignation that he had spoken in jest, but we still believe his gaffe casts doubt on his merit as a Cabinet minister.
２２日の辞任会見では、「ジョーク交じりの発言」と釈明したが、閣僚としての資質が疑われる。

===

Appoint qualified ministers

The prime minister will be held responsible for appointing Yanagida as justice minister.
　柳田法相の人選には、菅首相の任命責任も問われよう。

During his 20 years as a lawmaker, Yanagida had never worked on judicial affairs. When he was appointed justice minister with the endorsement of the Democratic Party of Japan caucus in the upper house, Yanagida reportedly said, "Why me?"
　柳田氏は２０年間の国会議員活動で、法務関係を担当した経験がない。参院民主党の推薦で法相に起用された際、本人が「何で俺が」と漏らしたほどだ。

Cabinet appointments were frequently based on seniority and factional power politics under Liberal Democratic Party-led governments as well. However, if the DPJ is going to tout "leadership by politicians" as a slogan, it should have given more consideration to Yanagida's abilities and aptitude.
　年功序列と派閥力学による閣僚人事は自民党政権でも横行していた。だが、民主党が「政治主導」を掲げるなら、本人の能力と適性をもっと考慮すべきだった。

Kan's administration apparently lacks a sense of crisis and does not fully understand it is facing a so-called divided Diet, where the opposition controls the upper house, at a time of diminishing public support.
　菅政権は、支持率が急落する中で衆参ねじれ国会に直面しているとの危機感が乏しい。

The administration emphasizes careful deliberations in the Diet but it is not working actively to bring them about, just pushing the responsibility for stalled Diet deliberations onto opposition parties.
「熟議の国会」と言うばかりで、法案審議が進まない責任を野党に押しつけ、自らは積極的に動かない。

With this attitude, the Kan administration will never break free of its current predicament.
これでは現在の苦境を打開できまい。

The prime minister told the House of Representatives Budget Committee on Nov. 8 that he wanted to keep managing the government "no matter what." Kan should prioritize policy implementation, but this remark sounds like staying in power itself has become his goal.
　首相は予算委で、今後の政権運営について「石にかじりついても頑張りたい」と語った。本来重視すべきは政策遂行なのに、政権維持が自己目的化していないか。

In foreign affairs, the prime minister also seems fixated on holding summit talks with Chinese and Russian leaders without paying attention to their content. That will not help him protect Japan's national interest.
　外交面でも、中国やロシアとの首脳会談の中身でなく、会談の開催自体を目的にしているようでは日本の国益は守れない。

===

Kan must take charge

The prime minister should exercise his leadership, realizing that the cowering of his administration, which tries to put off decisions on everything, has lowered public support for it.
　首相は、何事も先送りを図る、萎(い)縮(しゅく)した政権の姿勢が支持率低下の要因であることを自覚し、指導力を発揮すべきだ。

During the current extraordinary Diet session, Kan must arrange to summon former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa to the Diet and disclose the video of a Chinese fishing boat ramming two Japan Coast Guard patrol boats off Senkaku Islands. It is also important for each member of his Cabinet to be more cautious and take responsibility for his or her remarks.
　臨時国会中に民主党の小沢一郎元代表の国会招致を実現し、尖閣諸島沖の漁船衝突ビデオも公開する必要がある。各閣僚も、もっと緊張感を保ち、自らの発言に責任を持つことが大切だ。

Yanagida's successor needs to be appointed as soon as possible. Alleged tampering of evidence by a prosecutor of the special investigation unit at the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office, and a subsequent cover-up scandal by his superiors, have made reform of the nation's prosecution system a pressing issue.
　柳田法相の後任も早く決める必要がある。特捜検事の証拠改ざんや隠蔽(いんぺい)事件で、検察改革は待ったなしの課題だ。

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku is currently doubling as justice minister, but this will not allow the government to tackle policy issues appropriately.
仙谷官房長官が法相兼務では、政策課題にきちんと取り組めるはずがない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23, 2010)
（2010年11月23日01時17分 読売新聞）

新核軍縮条約―日本から米ロに発効促せ

2010/11/23
--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 22
EDITORIAL: Nuclear disarmament
新核軍縮条約―日本から米ロに発効促せ

As U.S. President Barack Obama seeks to embark upon a path toward a "world without nuclear weapons," the U.S. Senate is blocking the way toward his first nuclear disarmament treaty.
　「核のない世界」へ踏み出そうとするオバマ米大統領の最初の核軍縮条約発効への道に、米議会上院が立ちはだかっている。

This is the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty signed by the United States and Russia in April. The pact aims to reduce strategic nuclear warheads to no more than 1,550 each. Ratification requires Senate approval.
　米ロが今年４月に調印した新核軍縮条約である。戦略核弾頭を減らして、双方１５５０発までとする。批准に上院の承認が必要だ。

As was clearly evident in the midterm elections earlier this month, U.S. politics has become increasingly partisan. Some within the Republican Party are opposing the treaty just for the sake of bringing down Obama. For a legislative body that is supposed to make decisions from a broader perspective, the Senate has become quite a petty place.
　今月初めの議会中間選挙で際立ったように、米国の政治は今、党派対立が強まっている。共和党の中には「オバマつぶし」のために条約に反対する動きさえある。大局を判断するはずの上院が、何とも小粒になったものだ。

As Senator Dick Lugar, a Republican supporter of the treaty, says, this is a matter of American national security, as well as a matter of global security. We hope the Senate will display what is supposed to be its inherent wisdom.
　共和党でありながら条約を支持するルーガー上院議員が言うように、これは米国の国家安全保障の問題であり、世界の安全の問題でもある。上院本来の良識を示してもらいたい。

A treaty needs a two-thirds majority in the Senate to be ratified. This means the administration needs not only support from Democrats, but also Republicans. As a result of the midterm elections, Democrats will have fewer Senate seats in the new Congress session starting in January. Calling it a top diplomatic priority, Obama seeks to have the treaty ratified within this year, using the current Democratic majority.
　承認に上院の３分の２の賛成が必要だ。民主党系だけでは足りず、共和党議員の支持も欠かせない。中間選挙の結果、来年１月からの新会期で民主党系議席はさらに減る。オバマ大統領は現議席を使える年内の批准をめざし、最優先の外交課題と宣言している。

If he fails, years could go by without any mutual verification of nuclear disarmament between the United States and Russia. There is a risk that the years spent since the days of the Cold War, dealing with each other on disarmament and building trust, may take a big step backward.
　失敗すると、米ロ間で核軍縮に関する相互検証がない状態が何年も続き、冷戦期から積み上げた軍縮交流、信頼構築が大きく後退する危険がある。

To win votes, Obama has responded to Republican requests to put federal money in renewing nuclear arms laboratories and refurbishing nuclear missile bases, drawing fire for ''pork-barrel" policies. If Republican legislators are going to criticize the national deficit, they should seriously consider cutting back the budget through nuclear disarmament.
　オバマ大統領は支持票を増やすために、共和党の要望に応じて核兵器研究所の更新や核ミサイル基地の整備に予算をつけ、「ばらまき」との批判も受けている。財政赤字を批判する共和党議員は、核軍縮による予算削減についても真剣に考えるべきだ。

The president also should not simply coax the Senate into ratification through political haggling, but should repeatedly emphasize the importance of the treaty through speeches to the public.
　大統領も、政治的取引で承認を促すだけでなく、国民への演説などを通じて、繰り返し、正面から条約の重要性を訴えるべきだ。

Once he solidifies public support, he can expect a sea change in the attitudes of the Republican senators.
国民からの幅広い支持を確かなものにすれば、共和党議員の態度にも変化を期待できよう。

This new nuclear arms reduction treaty is an important step toward creating a disarmament dialogue with other nuclear powers, not just the United States and Russia. We hope President Obama will take on the task with full force, even at the risk of using up his political capital, so that his vision of a "world without nuclear weapons" does not quickly turn into an illusion.
　今回の新軍縮条約は、米ロ以外の核保有国、核武装国も加えた軍縮対話へとつなげていく重要な一歩だ。オバマ大統領は「核のない世界」の構想を早々に幻にせぬためにも、政治生命をかける覚悟で臨んでほしい。

Russia will have many decommissioned nuclear missiles on its hands in future years. If the treaty fails to come into force, then Russia will have to spend money building new nuclear missiles to replace the old ones. Russia also must avoid a return to the nuclear Cold War situation.
　ロシアでは今後、退役する核ミサイルが増えていく。条約の発効に失敗すれば、代替用の核ミサイル増設に資金を投じなければならない。「核冷戦」を再び招く事態をロシアの側からも避けるべきである。

Moscow is also having a hard time getting the treaty ratified due to concerns over missile defense, but it needs to make a decision soon.
ミサイル防衛などへの懸念からロシアでの批准も手間取っているが、早期に決断すべきだ。

If the U.S.-Russia nuclear disarmament process should stall, then this could lead to a vicious cycle with China and India enhancing their nuclear arsenals. Therefore, this is indeed a matter of Japan's national security and Asian security. Japan should urge both the United States and Russia in no uncertain terms to have the treaty come into force.
　米ロの核軍縮が停滞すれば、中国の核軍備強化、さらにはインドの核軍拡へと悪循環を招く恐れがある。まさに日本、アジアの安全保障問題であり、日本も米ロ双方に条約発効を強く促す必要がある。

It is still not too late. Prime Minister Naoto Kan should relay to the American and Russian leaders once again how important this treaty is for Japan as well.
　今からでも遅くはない。菅直人首相は米ロ首脳にこの条約を重視する日本の立場を改めて伝えてはどうか。

ローイ・クラトーン（灯篭流し）

夕方、日暮れ前にコンケン市街のはずれにある美しい湖ブンケンナコンに出かけました。
６時に日が暮れたのですぐに灯篭を流しました。早くしないと大変な混雑になり車が出られなくなるからです。２時間ほど楽しんでから子供の玩具（おもちゃ）を買ってからすぐに帰宅しました。　２０：３０＾＾。
灯篭流しは深夜１２：００ころまで大勢の人たちで混み合います。
この日はタイ人の恋人たちにとってはとってもロマンチックな夜なのです。
携帯で写真を撮ってきましたがフラッシュ付きでないのでこんなものでしょう。
最近は空に向けて流す灯篭もあります。
一つ買って空に向かって灯篭を流しました。
灯篭は暗い夜空の上に向かって、どこまでも昇っていきました。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPVbXo5QUOM

ＧＤＰ拡大 見かけの高成長に気を許すな

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 22, 2010)
Govt must be vigilant over economic outlook
ＧＤＰ拡大　見かけの高成長に気を許すな（11月21日付・読売社説）

The nation's economy has achieved moderate growth, but questions remain over its sustainability. The government must watch over the economy's propsects and remain vigilant for signs of deterioration.
　まずまずの成長を実現したが、持続力には疑問符がつく。先行き、景気悪化への警戒を緩めてはならない。

The seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product rose 0.9 percent in July-September from the previous quarter--3.9 percent at an annualized rate--marking the fourth consecutive quarterly increase.
　７～９月期の実質国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）は、前期比０・９％増と、４四半期連続でプラスだった。１年に換算すると３・９％の成長率になる。

False dawn

Personal consumption, the main pillar of domestic demand, surged partly as a result of robust car sales ahead of the end of government subsidies for eco-friendly cars. In addition, the extremely hot summer weather boosted air conditioner sales.
　エコカー補助金の期限切れを控えた駆け込み需要や夏の猛暑で、自動車やエアコンが売れ、内需の柱である個人消費が急増した。

However, these growth factors represented temporary special demand, meaning that the economy has yet to regain sustainable growth in domestic demand. It is also widely anticipated that the economy in the October-December quarter will contract due to factors including a sharp drop in consumer spending after the third-quarter surge.
　ただし、一時的な特需で押し上げられたもので、地に足のついた内需中心の成長を取り戻したわけではない。１０～１２月期は消費の反動減などで、一転してマイナス成長になるとの見方も強い。

Although the economic prospects may look bright as the Nikkei Stock Average has reattained the 10,000 level, we have to be vigilant. The government and Bank of Japan should take all possible measures to support the nation's economy.
　平均株価が１万円台を回復し、明るさも見えるが、油断は禁物だ。政府・日銀は、景気の下支えに万全を期してもらいたい。

The latest GDP data show that, in contrast to the temporary growth in domestic demand, there has been almost zero growth in external demand as a factor in Japan's economy. External demand has supported GDP growth in the past, but export growth has slowed due to the high value of the yen and the weakness of economies overseas.
　今回のＧＤＰは、内需とうらはらに、これまで成長を下支えしてきた外需が、ほぼゼロ成長になった。円高と海外経済の減速で、輸出の伸びが鈍ったためだ。

In mid-September, the government and Bank of Japan engaged in market intervention for the first time in 6-1/2 years to stop the yen from surging, but appreciation pressure on the currency still remains. For now, it is impossible to wipe away concerns over a downturn in corporate performance, which has finally started to recover, in the latter half of the current fiscal year.
　政府・日銀は９月中旬、円急騰に歯止めをかけようと、６年半ぶりに市場介入したが、円高圧力は残っている。やっと回復してきた企業収益が、下半期に下振れする懸念はぬぐえない。

One good point about the rise in the yen is that people can buy imported goods at low prices, but we must keep in mind that it has side effects--falling prices could chill the economy and increase unemployment.
　円高は輸入品を安く買えるメリットもあるが、物価の下落が景気を冷やし、失業などを増やす副作用を忘れてはなるまい。

The government and Bank of Japan need to maintain a staunch stance against the yen's excessive appreciation.
　政府・日銀は、行き過ぎた円高を阻止する断固とした姿勢を維持する必要がある。

The prospects for domestic demand, which looked strong in the July-September quarter, likely will become increasingly uncertain. Car sales in October dropped more than 20 percent from a year earlier, while cigarette sales plunged 70 percent due to the increased cigarette tax.
　７～９月期は元気に見えた内需も、今後は不透明感が強まりそうだ。１０月は、自動車販売が前年同月より２割以上減り、たばこも増税の影響で７割減となった。

Because the number of eco points awarded for purchases of energy-saving home electrical appliances will be reduced in December, sales of flat-screen TVs and other electrical appliances are robust now, but this will not last long.
　１２月に家電エコポイントが減らされるため、今は薄型テレビなどの販売が好調だが、これも長続きはしないだろう。

Swift action needed

To avoid a major drop in domestic demand, the government must have the supplementary budget pass the Diet quickly and also must accelerate emergency economic measures, including public works projects.
　内需の大きな落ち込みを避けるには、補正予算を早期に成立させ、公共事業など緊急経済対策の執行を急がねばならない。

It is important for the government to build a foundation for private-sector-led growth while it is compensating for demand shortfalls with an adrenaline shot of fiscal spending.
　財政支出のカンフル剤で需要不足を補う間に、民間主導の成長の基盤を作ることが重要である。

However, internal debates over growth strategy have put the administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan at cross-purposes with itself. It is likely that corporate tax cuts, the centerpiece of the strategy, will be realized only if the industrial sector shoulders additional burdens in the form of other taxes to generate alternative financial resources for the government. Needless to say, this would dampen the cuts' intended invigorating effect on companies.
　だが、成長戦略をめぐる菅政権の論議はちぐはぐだ。戦略の目玉となる法人税減税は、多くの財源を産業界の追加負担でまかなう案が有力という。これでは、企業活性化の効果がそがれてしまう。

Financial resources can be secured by stopping handout policies that have only slight economic effect. Kan should exercise leadership and switch policy priorities.
　経済効果の薄いバラマキ政策をやめれば財源は確保できる。菅首相は指導力を発揮し、政策の優先順位を入れ替えるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 21, 2010)
（2010年11月21日01時20分 読売新聞）

Aung San Suu Kyiさんの最近の書き込み

先日スーチーさんはラングーン郊外にあるＨＩＶ患者収容施設を訪問し患者たちを励ましましたが、それが裏目に出てしまったようです。ビルマ政府は収容施設内の患者たちに退去（立ち退き）の命令を下しました。理由はスーチーさんの政治活動に対するけん制だと思います。ビルマ政府に対しては寛大な処置をお願いしたいと思います。
スーチーさんの二人の息子さんたちはイギリス国籍だと思いますがビルマ訪問のビザがおりません。
ビルマ政府にはビザの早期発給をお願いしたいです。親子が会いたくても１０年以上も会えないなんて、想像を絶する苦しみではないでしょうか。１９９９年に末期ガンで死期を悟ったご主人（イギリス人）がビルマ訪問のビザ申請をしていますが、これも当時却下されております。ご主人はその直後に亡くなっております。
米国は国際世論の先頭に立ってもっと積極的に人道的な見地からビルマの民主化を支援して欲しい。
軍政はあいかわらずかたくなです。オバマ大統領やクリントン国務長官にはもっと積極的に人道的見地からビルマの民主化を支援してもらいたいです。
（スラチャイ記）

●I want the US to keep their eyes open in talks with Burmese government. I want to US to be practical about it. http://bit.ly/9SHHl2
about 4 hours ago via Tweetie for Mac
(ｔｒａｎｓ. ｂｙ ｓｒａｃｈａｉ) ↓
米国は、もっとビルマ政府に対して積極的に話しを進めて欲しいです。目に見える形での応援を望みます。
http://bit.ly/9SHHl2

●Frustrated that the junta won't allow my two sons to visit. I have yet to see a photograph of my young grandchildren as well.
about 4 hours ago via Tweetie for Mac
(ｔｒａｎｓ. ｂｙ ｓｒａｃｈａｉ) ↓
二人の息子たちのビザ（ビルマ入国）がおりません。まだ孫たちの写真すら見たことがないです。

●I never meant for this to happen - "Myanmar patients face eviction after Suu Kyi visit" http://apne.ws/dv31FT
about 4 hours ago via Tweetie for Mac
(ｔｒａｎｓ. ｂｙ ｓｒａｃｈａｉ) ↓
先日ＨＩＶ患者の施設を訪問したことが、こんな結果になるとは夢にも思いませんでした。
スーチー女史によるＨＩＶ患者収容施設訪問後、ビルマ政府は、これらの患者たちの収容施設よりの立ち退きを命令しました。
http://apne.ws/dv31FT