 Zama mayor submits signatures opposing U.S. Army relocation Zama City Mayor Hoshino Katsuji on May 16 submitted to the government signatures in opposition to the planned relocation of the U.S. Army 1st Corps to U.S. Camp Zama, which stretches between Zama and Sagamihara cities in Kanagawa Prefecture. Hoshino and representatives of the city assembly and residents' association presented the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Agency with about 60,000 signatures. Receiving the signatures representing nearly half of the Zama population, Vice-Foreign Minister Aisawa Ichiro said, "We have to take the residents' concerns seriously." Telling Aisawa that they have collected 59,769 signatures in 10 days, Mayor Hoshino demanded that the government accept the residents' demand with sincerity and strive to prevent Camp Zama from being strengthened in future talks with the U.S. The signatures were collected by the Zama City Liaison Council against the U.S. Army 1st Corps Relocation to Camp Zama, chaired by the mayor. - Akahata, May 17, 2005 |