 Rally held against planned deployment of U.S. Army 1st Corps Command to Zama Calling for opposition to the U.S. plan to deploy the U.S.-home based Army 1st Corps Command to U.S. Army Camp Zama, about 2,700 citizens held a rally on December 12 in Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. In his address to the rally, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi said, "The deployment plan, which is part of the global transformation of the U.S. forces, is designed to further advance the command's capabilities so that Japan may be used as a stepping stone for quicker force projections around the world under the U.S. preemptive strike strategy." "Once the U.S. Army 1st Corps is relocated, Camp Zama will be transformed into a perpetual base, and Kanagawa Prefecture hosting many U.S. air, sea, and ground bases will become their vital base of operations," Ichida said. "Let's say 'No' to such a dangerous plan," he called on the participants. Messages from Mayor Uchino Masaru of Ebina City in Kanagawa and others were introduced, followed by speeches by JCP members of several local assemblies surrounding Camp Zama as well as by an independent assembly member. Both mayors and assemblies of Zama and Sagamihara cities hosting Camp Zama have expressed unanimous opposition to the relocation plan. After the rally, citizens marched in demonstration around the base site, shouting, "Withdraw Camp Zama immediately! Don't allow the command's relocation to Zama!" When representatives of the rally tried to hand in a note of protest addressed to the base commander, the U.S. side refused to receive it. (end) |