livefire_drill

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'Don't shoot us': 10,000 Okinawans attend rally

Chanting, "U.S. Marines! Stop your live-fire exercises just 300 meters away from our houses!" about 10,000 people held a rally in Kin Town, Okinawa, on July 19.

The rally, sponsored by the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly, Kin Town, the Kin Town Assembly, and the Igei district, was the second multi-party rally since the October 1995 prefectural rally in protest against the gang rape of a school girl by U.S. marines.

Participants also called for an immediate closure of the shooting range for urban warfare exercises of U.S. Marine Corps Camp Hansen. They also demanded that all U.S. military facilities in the Igei district of Kin Town be withdrawn.

The rally was attended by Okinawa Governor Inamine Keiichi along with prefectural assembly members, mayors, and Japanese Communist Party House of Representatives member Akamine Seiken.

Addressing participants with placards reading, "Don't target us Igei residents!", Kin Town Mayor Gibu Takeshi stated, "The townspeople's anger is at its height. The Japanese government must act now to defend our lives and properties."

Governor Inamine stated, "I'm determined to join hands with you to stop the exercises."

Ikehara Masafumi, Igei district committee chair, stressed that residents have been at the U.S. camp site for more than 400 days, calling for a halt to the construction of the exercise complex.

Since the U.S. returned the administrative rights over Okinawa to Japan in 1972, more than ten "stray bullets" hit the Igei district in Kin Town.

Nakae Yuki and Yamada Rino, both high school students, stated, "We don't see why the war exercise complex was constructed and is in use despite opposition by so many residents."

Expressing her "deep concerns about stray bullets hitting her 4-year old child and baby," a 31-year old mother wanted the drills discontinued.

Participants marched in demonstration toward the U.S. Camp Hansen gate, shouting, "Give us back our safety," and "Okinawa no longer needs U.S. military bases!". -- Akahata, July 20, 2005