okinawa

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Naha City Assembly opposes U.S. base construction

The Naha City Assembly in Okinawa Prefecture on December 13 adopted a unanimous statement opposing the Japan-U.S. plan to construct a new U.S. military base on the southern coast of U.S. Camp Schwab in Nago City as an alternative site to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City.

Citing an Okinawan newspaper opinion poll showing that 72 percent of the respondents are opposed to the construction plan and 84 percent want the Futenma base to be relocated overseas, the statement stressed that Okinawans are not in a position to accept the plan.

It criticized the national government for failing to discuss the Japan-U.S. agreement on U.S. military realignment with representatives of Okinawa Prefecture and other local municipalities concerned, and stated, "It must be said that the agreement was made without involving local governments and residents. We cannot help expressing anger at the national government's attitude of disdain toward on local municipalities."

The statement also strongly condemned the government for planning to establish a special measures law to enable it to take over the Okinawan governor's right to permit reclamation of public water in Okinawa in order to carry out landfill operations for the base construction.

The city assembly of Naha urged the prime minister, the Upper House president and Lower House speaker, and the U.S. president to cancel the construction plan, close the U.S. Futenma base and immediately return the site, and withdraw a plan to impose a special measures law.
- Akahata, December 14, 2005