 Okinawans hold rally to express opposition to U.S. base relocation In Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, about 300 people held a rally on March 11 to urge Okinawa Governor Inamine Keiichi to listen to Okinawans calling for opposition to any U.S. military base relocation within the prefecture. The Okinawa governor was to visit Washington from March 13 to discuss problems of U.S. bases in Okinawa with U.S. government officials. Banners put up at the rally site read "No construction of a new U.S. base in the Henoko district (of Nago City)," and "Close the Futenma Marine Corps Air Station." Speaking on behalf of the Japanese Communist Party, Akamine Seiken, a House of Representatives member, criticizied both the Japanese and U.S. governments for trying to allay Okinawans' anger by planning to relocate bases to other parts of Japan. (end) |