Pubdate: Wed, 16 Aug 2000 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2000 The New York Times Company Contact: 229 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036 Fax: (212) 556-3622 Website: http://www.nytimes.com/ Forum: http://www10.nytimes.com/comment/ Section: World Briefings Note: Reuters wire story JAPAN: A NEW WIRETAP LAW Japan's first wiretapping law went into effect, allowing authorities to use wiretaps when investigating crimes involving narcotics, guns, gang-related murders and large-scale smuggling of people into the country. Arguing for the law last year, the police had described it as an essential tool in their fight against organized crime. Critics -- mindful of Japan's history as a police state before and during World War II -- had said the wiretapping could be used against political rivals. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens