 Okinawans protest against governor's visit to the U.S. for new base construction Members of the Okinawan Liaison Council against the Security Treaty on February 15 held a sit-in in front of the prefectural government office in protest against Okinawa Governor Inamine Keiichi's plan to visit the U.S. to promote the construction of a new U.S. military base in the sea off the Henoko district of Nago City. Their lunchtime rally was participated by about 100 people, including representatives of the Okinawan Peace Committee, the Japan Federation of Democratic Medical Institutions, the New Japan Women's Association, and the Democratic Youth League of Japan. Aragaki Shigenobu, representative of the Okinawan Liaison Council against the Security Treaty, criticized the governor for supporting the construction plan while public calls for an unconditional return of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station are increasing after August last year, when a U.S. military helicopter stationed at the Futenma base crashed. Governor Inamine Keiichi plans to visit the U.S. by the end of February in order to accelerate the process of constructing a new base in the Henoko district as an alternative site for the Futenma base in Ginowan City. (end) |