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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Residents oppose U.S. Marines' urban warfare training

On June 28, Okinawa's Kin Town Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution in protest against the provisional use by the U.S. Marine Corps of the anti-urban guerrilla training facility recently constructed at Range 4 of U.S. Camp Hansen in Kin Town.

Pointing out that the Japanese government has permitted the U.S. forces to carry out the training at Range 4 knowing how dangerous it is, the resolution criticized the government for abandoning its responsibility to give priority to citizens' safety by kowtowing to the U.S. government.

It demanded that the Japanese government request the U.S. forces to immediately close and remove the anti-guerrilla training facility and close Range 4 and Range 5F.

On June 27, about 200 Kin Town residents held a rally and demonstration calling for cancellation of U.S. forces' urban warfare training.

Although the U.S. Forces in Okinawa had announced that it would start the training on that day, the training was not conducted.

Kin Town Mayor Gibu Takeshi on the same day made representations to the Foreign Ministry and Defense Agency in Tokyo demanding that the government urge the U.S. Marine Corps to cancel the use of the facility.

About 60 percent of Kin Town was taken up by U.S. military facilities. Residents in the Igei district of Kin Town, where Range 4 is located, have been exposed to the danger of stray bullets. - Akahata, June 28, 29, 2005