us3

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

Stop forcing local residents to accept U.S. forces relocation: JCP prefectural committees

Representatives of the Japanese Communist Party Fukuoka, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima prefectural committees on June 15 visited the Fukuoka Regional Defense Facilities Administration Bureau and demanded that the government withdraw the planned realignment of U.S. bases in Japan and respect local opposition to its implementation.

The JCP representatives pointed out that residents and local municipalities and assemblies have expressed their firm opposition to the plan to relocate U.S. military flight exercises to the Self-Defense Forces Tsuiki base (Fukuoka), Nyutabaru base (Miyazaki), and Kanoya base (Kagoshima). They criticized the government for ignoring the local voices and demanded that it halt a plan to pay three trillion yen for the entire realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.

A government agency official said, "We recognize the firm local opposition," nonetheless he stated that the government has no intention to withdraw the realignment plan.
- Akahata, June 16, 2006