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

Peace Committee requests government withdrawal of base construction plan in Okinawa

Representatives of the Japan Peace Committee and Okinawa Peace Committee on April 21 made representations to the Defense Agency demanding that the government withdraw the plan to construct a large U.S. base on the coastline of Nago City, Okinawa.

The peace group made a request for details of the new base plan, but DA officials turned it down saying that they cannot provide such information since the plan is currently under discussion.

In answer to the peace activists' question if fighter jets will come to the new base, the officials said that the U.S. forces will operate the base in accord with Japan-U.S. agreements. The representatives criticized the government for their insensitivity in failing to recognize that the U.S. forces are doing what they want to do at their bases in Okinawa in disregard of agreements on noise reduction made with local municipalities, referring to the situations at the U.S. Futenma base and Kadena base.
- Akahata, April 22, 2006