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

JCP calls for rejection of U.S. forces' participation in disaster drill

The Japanese Communist Party Adachi Ward Assembly members group on July 4 made representations to the Adachi Ward Office in Tokyo, demanding that the ward mayor refuse the participation of the U.S. forces in Japan in a large-scale comprehensive disaster-preparedness drill scheduled for September 1. This year's drill will take place mainly in Adachi Ward.

Pointing out that the disaster relief is not a basic duty of the U.S. forces and that the U.S. troops are trained for the armed invasion of other countries, the group advocated that a rapid-response system for disasters should be formed by mobilizing municipal institutions centering on disaster relief experts, including local police and fire-fighting organizations.

The group demanded that the mayor clearly refuse the U.S. forces' participation in the drill and request the central and the Tokyo Metropolitan governments to cancel the drill plan that gives a role to the U.S. forces.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government revealed that it is consulting with the central government about a joint drill in which the U.S. Air force's helicopters will transport medical goods from the U.S. Yokota Air Base to the main venue of the drill and U.S. Navy vessels will carry civilians unable to go home from Tokyo to Yokosuka.

The annual large-scale disaster drill is jointly organized by the prefectures of Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa, Tokyo, and Yokohama, Kawasaki, Chiba, and Saitama cities.
- Akahata, July 5, 2006