 Local village opposes U.S. Marine unit relocation The Ie Village Assembly in Okinawa Prefecture on April 4 adopted a unanimous resolution expressing opposition to the government plan to relocate part of the U.S. Marine forces stationed at the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station to the U.S. Iejima Auxiliary Airport in the village. The statement said, "Ie residents for 60 years have been suffering from the heavy burden of the base and will not tolerate a further expansion of the base." Mayor Shimabukuro Seitoku clearly expressed his opposition to the planned relocation of a U.S. Marines helicopter unit to Ie Village, saying that exercises with this particular unit are completely different from those with fighter jets or parachute exercises, which the village has allowed to be held. U.S. occupation forces expropriated local private land and constructed their bases in Ie village after WW II. Even today, 35 percent of the village land is occupied by the U.S. forces. (end) |