Foil plan of perpetuating the stationing of U.S. Forces in Okinawa --
Akahata editorial, December 14, 2001

The Koizumi Cabinet is pressing Nago citizens to select one of eight
plans with three engineering methods for the construction of a
state-of-the-art U.S. air base at the Henoko district in Nago City, Okinawa.

To push ahead with the plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma
Air Station, the government is hurrying to hold a meeting of the
consultative committee made up of the government, Okinawa Prefecture, Nago
City, and other administrative districts by year end to adopt an engineering
plan.

Under all of the eight plans, the new U.S. base will have a 2,700-meter
runway, which will double the size of the initial on-sea helicopter base
plan. It is designed to be used by jet fighters and transport planes as well
as helicopters.

This is a plan to establish a new stepping stone for intervention for the
U.S. Marine Corps in northern Okinawa.

More precise harms on Okinawa

Okinawa Governor Inamine Keiichi promised during his election campaign
that a 15-year use term limit will be imposed on the base, but this has been
clearly rejected by the U.S. president and government officials, simply
because such a limitation would conflict with their purpose, which is to
establish a new, permanent, and state-of-the-art U.S. base on Okinawa.

Inamine has stated that the new base would be shared with civil aviation,
but it is obvious that the base is for military aircraft.

In order to persuade Nago's government and citizens to accept the new
base plan, the central government promised to help 'boost the local economy'
with tax money, a carrot-and-stick tactic.

However, what has actually impeded the development of Okinawa's economy?
Over the past half century, 75% of U.S. bases in Japan have been
concentrated on this small island under government policy. The government is
responsible for retarding the development of Okinawa's economy. It must stop
compelling Okinawa to co-exist with U.S. bases if it really wants Okinawa's
economic recovery.

Once the new base is constructed, it will ruin the natural environment of
Okinawa. All of the proposed engineering methods will endanger the existence
of the globally rare species of Dugongs.

It was in 1995 that Okinawans, when an underaged schoolgirl was gang
raped by marines, rose and began to call for the withdrawal of the U.S.
Futenma Air Station because they were convinced that U.S. bases are
incompatible with people's lives, safety, and basic human rights.

Yet, heinous crimes, such as physical violence and arson attacks by U.S.
soldiers continue unabated in Okinawa.

Also, since the terrorist attacks in the U.S., the number of sight-seeing
tourists and school trips to Okinawa has decreased sharply, indicating that
the existence of U.S. bases on the island only gives harm.

It is in these circumstances that the Koizumi Cabinet began pushing ahead
with the construction of the new U.S. base.

It has pressured Okinawa Prefecture and Nago City into forcing local
residents concerned to pick one of the proposed eight construction plans. An
extraordinarily arbitrary plan demanding that residents accept the
construction of a new mammoth military base and condone the subsequent
destruction of coral reefs. A call on the government to listen to residents
is being ignored.

How outrageous it is to trample on the desire of residents and Okinawans
for a drastic reduction and removal of U.S. bases from Okinawa!

The U.S. bases, constructed during its occupation of the island,
constitute the root of all evil for 1.2 million islanders. Then, how can the
Japanese government be allowed to construct a new and strengthened U.S. base
by arguing that it represents the will of Okinawa?

As expressed by a referendum in December 1997, Nago citizens solemnly
rejected the new base plan, the very basis for dealing with the matter.

Local assemblies, including the Okinawa prefectural and Nago City
assemblies passed unanimous resolutions respectively calling for the
withdrawal or reduction of the U.S. Marine Corps from Okinawa. A public
opinion poll in Nago City at the end of July suggested that 54% of the
respondents said 'No' to the new base, while 27% voted 'in favor.'

Also, a major plan to construct a base on the coral reef, one of the
eight plans, met residents' criticism because it will cause "environmental
destruction," and was "too large."

Stop the new base plan

Once constructed, the new base, associated with a new military port at
Urasoe as a relocation of Naha military port, will make Okinawa a major
sortie base of the U.S. Marine Corps over an extended period in the 21st
century.

This means continuing to keep Japan bound by U.S. military bases, and
strengthening the foothold for U.S. wars (in the Pacific).

Okinawans wish to hand down their beautiful sea to their descendants.
What they desire is an early liberation from the heavy burdens of U.S.
bases. Let's join with Okinawans to defeat the Koizumi Cabinet's scheme to
construct the new military base. (end)