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

Small townﾕs 1,200 people hold rally against moving in of U.S. military exercises
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In Shintomi Town with a population of 18,000 in Miyazaki Prefecture, 1,200 people held a rally on April 8 to oppose the plan to allow exercises conducted by U.S. forces to be held at the Air Self-Defense Force Nyutabaru base in the town.
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The rally, organized by the association of the townﾕs 62 ward heads, showed the townspeopleﾕs determination that they will never accept U.S. forces, even though they have coexisted with the SDF base.
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The ward head association president Seki Hiroshi in his speech said that the rally, taking place in advance of the release of the final report of the Japan-U.S. talks on military realignment, ﾒwill show how strong our opposition to the use of the base by the U.S. forces is.ﾓ Shintomi Town Mayor Tsuchiya Yoshifumi stated that citizensﾕ concerns about sonic booms and public peace have not been addressed yet.
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Shintomi Town Assembly Chair Kuranaga Kimio said, ﾒWe have exhausted our patience with the noise. We will fulfill our responsibility to defend the peace and safety of the townspeople.ﾓ
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A citizen said he is worried that chemicals used to clean fighter jets may soak into the soil and cause environmental pollution.
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The ward heads had only ten days to prepare the rally. They distributed 6,000 handbills, calling for participation in the rally.
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Ishimura Shuji, a 28-year-old farmer who attended the rally said, ﾒTodayﾕs meeting has confirmed that the townspeople are united against the use of the base by the U.S. forces.ﾓ
- Akahata, April 9, 2006