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UNESCO associations in western Japan warn against reinforcement of U.S. military base

Three UNESCO associations in western Japan say "No" to the plan to transfer U.S. forces' touch-and-go exercises to the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Representatives of the three UNESCO associations of Iwakuni (Yamaguchi Prefecture), Hiroshima, and Miyajima (Hiroshima Prefecture) announced their opposition to the military plan at a news conference on October 14 in Hiroshima.

Iguchi Takeshi, Miyajima UNESCO Association chairman, said: "We oppose the planned relocation because it will endanger 'Miyajima,' a World Heritage site. Local governments concerned have so far carried out signature collection campaigns in opposition to the relocation plan. We have concluded that the UNESCO associations must express their opposition in order to protect the world heritage."

Itsukushima Shrine on the island of Miyajima was designated as a World Heritage site in 1996. The island on the Seto inland sea is about eight kilometers from the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station. It is particularly famous for its "floating" red torii gate. The island also has an old growth forest.

Iguchi also said, "The Japanese government has treaty obligations to protect the world heritage site in cooperation with the public. We must not allow the world heritage to be destroyed by Japanese and U.S. security needs." -- Akahata, October 15, 2005