Okinawa's media are critical of governor's U.S. visit

As Okinawa Governor Inamine Keiichi was about to end his week-long visit to the U.S. capital on May 18, Okinawan newspapers published harsh comments on the outcome of the visit.

The governor was in Washington with Nago City Mayor Kishimoto Tateo from May 13 to discuss problems related to U.S. bases in Okinawa with U.S. government officials .

The main subject of the discussions was the planned construction of a new U.S. base near Nago City, in particular Okinawa's request for a 15-year limit to be imposed on the new base.

The new base has been planned as the substitute for the present U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.

Inamine said, "The talks produced results."

It is reported that U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage rejected the call for the 15-year limit to be imposed saying that the U.S. position should be clear.

Ryukyu Shimpo, one of the two major Okinawan dailies, said what the governor promised Okinawans is no longer effective. It went on to say that the prefectural government will have to consider a change in what it has adopted as U.S. base relocation policy.

The Okinawa Times noted that no progress was made on the question of a reduction in the number of U.S. Marines stationed in Okinawa and a review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. It said the time has come to tell the Japanese government that the acceptance of U.S. base relocation policy may be scrapped.

Ryukyu Shimpo reported the comment which Isa Shin'ichi, Japanese Communist Party's Okinawa committee acting chair, made as follows:

"Inamine's U.S. visit demonstrates how arrogant the U.S. government attitude is toward Okinawa, and how subservient the Japanese government is to the U.S., plus how weak the governor's public promise was.

A U.S. Defense Department report states that facilities of the new military base are designed for a 40 year operational life with a 200 year fatigue life. Inamine's "15-year" proposal has turned out to be just a fiction.

A policy change is needed from one of heavily depending on the Japan-U.S. military alliance to one of peace and neutrality." (end)