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

Okinawans criticize Nago mayor for breaking promise

In front of the Nago City office building in Okinawa, about 500 residents who oppose the plan to construct a new U.S. base on April 11 held an urgent rally to protest against the mayorﾕs breach of his public promise.

Protesters demanded that Mayor Shimabukuro Yoshikazu retract the agreement with the government to accept a ﾒnew planﾓ to construct a U.S. base on the shoreline of U.S. Camp Schwab in the city.

The courtyard was filled with banners and flags reading, ﾒWe will not allow the mayor to ignore the residents.ﾓ

Yasutsugu Tomihiro of the local association against the construction of a U.S. helicopter base said, ﾒIt is only the mayor and the deputy mayor who agreed to the new plan with two runways. None of the residents in the city or in Okinawa agree.ﾓ

Representing the Japanese Communist Party, Okinawa Prefectural Assembly member Maeda Masaaki and former Nago City Assembly member Gushiken Toru took part in the rally, and JCP House of Representatives member Akamine Seiken sent a message of solidarity.

Shimabukuro on April 7 agreed with the government on the ﾒnew planﾓ to construct a U.S. base with two runways, which will be significantly larger than the initial plan, on the shoreline of U.S. Camp Schwab as an alternative to the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City.

Fully supported by the Liberal Democratic Party, Shimabukuro was elected as Nago City mayor on January 22. In his election campaign, he expressed his opposition to the plan to construct a new base on the shoreline.
- Akahata, April 12, 2006