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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Government must respect local demands: Kanagawa governor and mayors

The Kanagawa governor and heads of the prefecture's two cities that host U.S. bases visited Defense Agency Director General Nukaga Fukushiro on March 30 to request that the government sincerely respond to local demands instead of rushing into the "final agreement" with the U.S. government on the realignment of U.S. bases in Japan.

Referring to the planned realignment of U.S. Camp Zama and the Sagami Supply Depot, Sagamihara Mayor Ogawa Isao said after the meeting, "Though the plan includes the return of a portion of the Sagami Supply Depot, the number of military vehicles will increase and more housing units will be constructed, thus strengthening and perpetuating those U.S. bases. This is against the city policy that calls for reduction and return of the base sites."

Zama Mayor Hoshino Katsuji stressed, "We want the government to give us a responsible answer. It must take the time to negotiate local concerns with the U.S. government."

Kanagawa Governor Matsuzawa Shigefumi said, "The government can't satisfy us by only forcing us to accept an increase in base burdens."
- Akahata, March 31, 2006