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Okinawa Prefectural Assembly opposes a new U.S. base

The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly on December 16 unanimously adopted an "opinion" expressing opposition to the plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City to the shoreline areas of U.S. Camp Schwab in Nago City. The relocation plan was included in an "interim report" on U.S. military realignment agreed upon by the Japanese and the U.S. governments.

The "opinion" pointed out that judging from many Okinawans as well as Nago citizens opposing the plan to construct a new U.S. base, it is difficult to accept the plan as it is.

The "opinion" criticized the "interim report" for being written without prior consultation with local governments.

It demanded that the government take the reality of Okinawa seriously, remove risks caused by the U.S. Futenma base, immediately get the base returned to Japan, and reduce burdens of the base in visible ways.
- Akahata, December 17, 2005