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3,500 citizens stage protest against U.S. Yokota Air Base

About 3,500 people held a rally on November 5 to protest against the Japan-U.S. plan to strengthen the functions of the U.S. Yokota Air Base in the outskirts of Tokyo for aggressive purposes.

The rally, called for by an organizing committee that includes the Tokyo Regional Council of Trade Unions, took place at a park in Fussa City near the Yokota base.

The Japanese and U.S. governments recently agreed on a series of U.S. military realignment plans that includes one to establish a "bilateral and joint operation center to ensure coordination among U.S. forces in Japan and Japan's Self-Defense Forces. They also plan to enhance cooperation in missile defense.

Using placards, handbills, and microphones, participants expressed opposition to all these military plans.

Speaking on behalf of the organizers, Tsutsumi Takashi said, "Residents near the Yokota base have long been forced to endure excessive aircraft noise and have been concerned about the danger of aircraft crashes. The area's local government heads have expressed opposition to the U.S. military transformation in Japan."

One participant stated, "We'll continue to fight until the U.S. military base is dismantled and replaced with houses."

Speakers included Ogata Yasuo, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors, as well as representatives of anti-U.S. base organizations: the Central Action Committee against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty (Anpo-haki), the Rally Organizing Committee against the Relocation of U.S. Army Corps Headquarters, and the Plaintiffs' Group in the U.S. Yokota Air Base Noise Pollution Lawsuit.

Ogata said, "Let us struggle to get rid of noise pollution and the Yokota base by putting to use the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution."

The participants adopted a resolution stating, "We oppose the reorganization of the base and the civil-military co-use of the base which will lead to the permanent use of the base site. Guided by the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, we will act to realize a Japan and a world without military bases or military forces." -- Akahata, November 6, 2005