military

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

Okinawa mayor revokes acceptance of building GSDF facility

Okinawa City Mayor Tomon Mitsuko informed the Naha Regional Defense Facilities Administration Bureau on June 29 of the city's decision to withdraw the letter of consent that the former mayor had submitted to the state to allow the Ground Self-Defense Force to build a shooting range on city land at the former U.S. Higashionna Ammunition Storage Point.

Tomon revealed this at the July 4 city assembly session.

In the mayoral election in April, Tomon, supported by the Japanese Communist Party and other opposition parties, promised to clearly oppose the plan to construct a GSDF shooting range on the grounds that it will strengthen the functions of military bases hosted by the city.

In 1996, the Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee on Okinawa decided to return to Japan a part of the U.S. Higashionna Ammunition Storage Point site. The then Okinawa City mayor, backed by the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties, requested the national government to continue to use it as an SDF site.
- Akahata, July 5, 2006