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

31 local groups oppose new U.S. command at Camp Zama

Thirty-one local citizens' organizations working on issues related to U.S. Camp Zama on May 8 carried out a concerted action at nine railway stations in Zama and Sagamihara cities in Kanagawa Prefecture in protest against the agreement on the U.S. military realignment. The action drew attention from residents of both cities hosting the base.

Handing out flyers and collecting signatures, participants called on passers-by to join hands to demand a return of the base.

The Japanese and U.S. governments have agreed that a U.S. Army command and Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force's Central Readiness Force headquarters will be established at U.S. Camp Zama, a battle command training center will also be constructed at U.S. Sagami General Depot in Sagamihara City, and more housing units for U.S. personnel will be constructed at U.S. Sagamihara Housing Area.

They criticized this agreement for making the two cities a "stronghold to carry out U.S. wars of aggression" by integrating the U.S. forces with the SDF.

A woman who received a flyer said, "I oppose the strengthening of the functions of the base. I feel scared that if the U.S. command comes here, and if something happens, we will be the first to suffer."

A participant said, "Looking at the moves to adversely revise the Fundamental Law of Education and the Constitution and to increase the consumption tax rate, I fear that Japan is moving forward to become a war-fighting nation."

Kawano Koji, Japanese Communist Party Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly member, along with JCP Zama and Sagamihara city assemblies members' groups, took part in the action.
- Akahata, May 9, 2006