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

Government must take seriously residents' judgment shown in Okinawa and Iwakuni mayoral elections
Akahata editorial (excerpts)

In the April 23 mayoral elections in Okinawa City and Iwakuni City fought over the main issue of the U.S. military realignment, candidates opposing the strengthening of U.S. bases won victory over opponents backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties.

The government must take seriously the local residents' judgment on the realignment of U.S. bases in Japan, and stop forcing the people to accept its agreements with the U.S. government on the pretext that military affairs is a question only the national government should deal with.

Criticism over government's highhanded policy

Okinawa City is one of the three municipalities hosting the U.S. Kadena Air Base, and its residents are suffering from noise pollution caused by U.S. fighter jets as well as crimes and accidents by U.S. military personnel. The realignment of U.S. bases will not alleviate the pain but will make things worse.

The government plan to relocate U.S. F-15 fighter exercises from the Kadena Base to the mainland of Japan does not eliminate Kadena's noise pollution. The residents will continue to endure base burdens since Self-Defense Forces F-15 fighter jets are planned to be used at Kadena.

The elected mayor of Okinawa City, Tomon Mitsuko, whom the Japanese Communist Party supported, showed clearly her opposition to the joint use of the Kadena base by the U.S. forces and the SDF because it will lead to strengthening of the base.

She has also made clear her opposition to the plan to construct a new U.S. base in Nago City, whether it will be built on the sea off the Henoko district or on the shoreline of U.S. Camp Schwab, and severely criticized the government, saying, "The government should request the U.S. to reduce and remove its bases."

In the Iwakuni mayoral election held due to the city merger with seven neighboring municipalities, 69 percent of residents voted for former mayor Ihara Katsusuke who firmly opposes the planned relocation of a U.S. carrier-borne aircraft unit to the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station. In the Iwakuni City referendum in March, 51 percent of all eligible voters voted against the relocation plan. In the mayoral election the residents expressed their second rejection to the plan because they are indignant at the Japanese and U.S. governments which not only refused to halt the plan after the referendum but expanded it by making an additional agreement to move 12 mid-air refueling planes to Iwakuni.

Almost all municipalities concerned are increasing their voices against the U.S. base realignment. It is obvious that the Koizumi Cabinet cannot continue its unilateral way of forcing local municipalities to accept agreements it made with the U.S.

Given the election results in Okinawa and Iwakuni cities, the government must not work towards a "final agreement" on the U.S. military realignment.
- Akahata, April 25, 2006