anti-base struggle2

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Shii talks of real designs of U.S. military realignment

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture spoke at a national meeting held on March 24 to share experiences in the struggle against U.S. military realignment.

In analyzing the real aims of the U.S. military realignment and its consequences, Shii said that the realignment plan is designed to remodel U.S. forces with more firepower and mobility in order to carry out the preemptive attack strategy, in which the Japanese and U.S. forces will act in one body militarily.

Shii said that the realignment plan will help the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines stationed in Japan to substantially increase their strike capacity as a combined force.

Referring to the plans to strengthen U.S. bases in mainland Japan, particularly plans to establish a new command at U.S. Camp Zama and to deploy a nuclear aircraft-carrier to the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa, Shii said they are all aimed at enhancing U.S. strike capabilities.

Specifically referring to the plan to construct a new base along the coast of Henoko, ostensibly as a substitute for the U.S. Futenma Air Station which will be closed, Shii said that its construction is much more significant. He pointed out that the new base construction entails three problems; that it will be permanent, that it will incomparably increase the strike capabilities of the Marine Corps, and that it is unconcerned about the safety of residents and the need for the preservation of the local ecology.

Shii said that the key to winning victory in the struggle against the U.S. military realignment is to encourage the struggle of local governments irrespective of political stances. Shii called for coordination between struggles in Okinawa and those in the rest of the country.
- Akahata, February 27, 2006