Itokazu's good fight in Okinawa gubernatorial election shows strong opposition to a new base

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Itokazu's good fight in Okinawa gubernatorial election shows strong opposition to a new base

In the November 19 Okinawa gubernatorial election, candidate Itokazu Keiko, who was supported by five opposition parties including the Japanese Communist Party, received 309,985 votes, while the opponent, Nakaima Hirokazu supported by the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties, received 347,303 votes.

It is significant that Itokazu, who squarely opposes the plan to construct a new U.S. base in Okinawa, had such a close contest with Nakaima.

It was a good fight

Commenting on the fact that the LDP-Komei candidate won by a margin of only 37,000 votes, former Governor Inamine Keiichi who led the Nakaima's campaign said, "It has been a very difficult campaign."

Concerning the government plan to construct a new base on the shoreline of the Henoko District of Nago City, Inamine said, "I believe Nakaima will fully take into consideration residents' opinions in dealing with the issue."

Another key member of Nakaima campaign headquarters said, "It will be a great mistake to assume that the election results show residents' acceptance of the new base. It will be really hard for Nakaima to deal with this issue. Concerning economic policies, he also made promises that will be found to be impossible to achieve."

What is the real intention of Okinawans

When Itokazu declared her candidacy, she and five opposition parties agreed on a five-point basic policy, the first of which is clear opposition to the plan to construct the U.S. base in Nago City as part of the U.S. military realignment program.

Other agreed points include the promotion of a self-reliant economy by making use of Okinawa's subtropical climate, instead of by relying on military bases, and defending Article 9 of the Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education.

Not only Itokazu but also the five opposition parties called on the voters for these policies throughout the campaign.

In contrast, Nakaima who supports the plan to relocate U.S. Futenma Air Station to somewhere in the prefecture, has avoided making it the most important issue while saying that he cannot agree with the plan as it is today.

Concerning economic policies, though he had made clear that he would take over the previous prefectural government policies of cutting back on welfare services and worsening the prefectural economy, he took a deceptive attitude by promising voters that he would halve the unemployment rate in order to catch up the mainland.

In order to make up for their incompetent policies, the LDP and Komei Party not only sent 200 Dietmembers into Okinawa but also put pressures on working people by using corporate influence.

Komei Acting Chief Representative Hamayotsu Toshiko in her speech on the streets even lied to defame Itokazu.

Minister of State for Okinawa Takaichi Sanae in her speech in support of Nakatani threatened Okinawans by saying, "No measure will be taken to promote Okinawa's local economy unless the plan to construct a new base begins to be implemented."

Okinawa's local paper Ryukyu Shimpo stated in its editorial on November 20, "If the government takes the election result as a green light to the U.S. military realignment in Japan, it will misread Okinawans' real intentions." "It cannot make light of the fact that Itokazu received 300,000 votes by calling for the U.S. Futenma Air Station to be relocated overseas."

The Okinawa Times on the same day wrote, "Itokazu's opposition to the new base construction has received significant support. The election result should not be taken as Okinawans' approval for Nakaima's base policies."

According to Yomiuri Shimbun's exit polls, 49 percent of those who voted for Nakaima said they are opposed to the government plan to construct the new base, while 38 percent of them expressed support.

Power of progressive joint struggle

Itokazu announced her candidacy a month later than Nakaima. However, the Japanese Communist Party, Social Democratic Party, Okinawa Social Mass Party, Democratic Party of Japan, and the Liberal League banded together in the campaign to call for support for their joint policies.

At a press conference late on the night of November 19, Itokazu expressed her appreciation to the five opposition parties' joint struggle. Shimabukuro Soko who led Itokazu's election campaign said, "We will make clear to Okinawans how wonderful the progressive joint struggle is. We pushed the opponent hard because we were able to represent Okinawans' wish to block the base construction."

Okinawans never give up

Many of those who supported Itokazu have renewed their determination after the election to continue the struggle to block the base construction.

One of Itokazu's supporters said, "Under strong pressure using corporate influence, many people had no choice but to vote for Nakaima. The fact that Itokazu received 310,000 votes is very significant."

"Though the election result was unfortunate, we will keep doing what we must do," said Taira Natsume, who has been leading the sit-in action against the base construction in the sea off the Henoko district in Nago City.

He went on to say, "We have successfully blocked the base construction despite the prefectural government policy of accepting the new base plan. I believe that we will prevail in the end. We will make efforts to help residents understand that the refusal of bases will promise us a true improvement in the local economy."
- Akahata, November 21, 2006