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

Anti-U.S. base human chain surrounds Defense Agency

Chanting, "It's time to remove U.S. bases from Okinawa!" about 700 people surrounded the Defense Agency building in Tokyo on September 4.

Participants in the human chain demanded that the Defense Agency immediately close the U.S. Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City in Okinawa, withdraw the plan to construct a new U.S. base in the sea off the Henoko District of Nago City in Okinawa, and start negotiating to reduce military bases in Japan.

Onishi Teruo, chair of the Nago Council against the Construction of the U.S. On-Sea Heliport, gave thanks to the nationwide encouragements and support for the continuous sit-in activity, now in its 504th day, in opposition to the construction plan of the new U.S. base in the Henoko District, and called on participants to make further efforts to change Japan into a true sovereign country.

A participant from Okinawa criticized the government by saying, "Tokyo (Defense Agency) is the one that has turned Okinawa into murder islands."

A 25-year-old woman said, "I'm glad to know that many people in Tokyo think of Okinawa and support our wish for a base-free Okinawa, we are connected with each other today as a human chain."
-- Akahata, September 5, 2005