zama

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Citizens group petitions to Defense Agency not to strengthen Camp Zama

Representatives of the Liaison Council of Residents Opposing the Relocation of U.S. Army I Corps to U.S. Camp Zama near Tokyo on March 7 visited the Defense Agency and requested that the plan to strengthen the base be retracted. They handed in a written request and 2,400 signatures opposing the plan.

Concerning the plan to establish the Ground Self-Defense Force's "central rapid response group" to accompany the relocation of the U.S. Army I Corps to Camp Zama (from Washington State), a DA official refused to answer, saying, "We cannot give specific answers, as consultations with the United States are under way."

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Koike Akira, who accompanied the petitioners, said, "Why can't Japan's Defense Agency answer questions about Japan's SDF deployment without consulting the United States?"
- Akahata, March 8, 2006