iwakuni

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Prefectural assembly opposes incoming of U.S. aircraft carrier-borne air wing

The Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly on November 30 unanimously expressed its opinion that the U.S. military plan to transfer the U.S.aircraft carrier-borne air wing from the U.S. Atsugi Naval base in Kanagawa Prefecture to the U.S. Marine corps Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture is "totally unacceptable."

A Japanese Communist Party assembly member was among the proposers of the opinion. The adopted document states: "It is a regret that the government has unilaterally proposed the realignment report that includes transferring the U.S. carrier-borne air wing to Iwakuni without prior consultations with the local municipalities concerned, despite the prefecture's strong position of not accepting any plans to further strengthen the Iwakuni base functions and to conduct nighttime touch-and-go (NLP) exercises."

The prefectural assembly requests that the central government in its final report fully reflect local opinions and promise that there will be no NLPs conducted at Iwakuni base or near the base.

In Iwakuni City, a citizens' association in opposition to the stationing of the U.S. carrier-borne air wing and NLPs was established. Signatures opposing the air-wing and NLPs were collected from a majority of the population, showing the increasing strength of the movement.
- Akahata, December 1, 2005