90,000 signatures submitted in protest against government attempt to distort history of the battle of Okinawa

   The Organizing Committee of Okinawans’ Rally against the Distortion of the History of the Battle of Okinawa on June 15 made representations to the Education Ministry in protest against its order to remove from history textbooks accounts that the Japanese military had forced civilians to commit “mass suicide” during the land battle toward the end of the Pacific War. It also urged the ministry to explain how the textbook screening was conducted.

   It submitted to the Education Ministry and Dietmembers 92,338 signatures bearing the demand that the ministry order be revoked.

   Committee Chair Fukumoto Yuji reported on the representations at a rally held later in the Diet building.

   He said that an education ministry official told him that the Japanese Army without doubt had been involved in and responsible for the Battle of Okinawa adding, “Due to the recent testimonies by the people concerned, military commanders’ involvement with the issue cannot be verified.” Fukumoto criticized the official for changing the subject. He called on the participants in the rally to tell children what is happening with textbook screenings.

   Takashima Nobuyoshi, professor at the University of the Ryukyus and a representative of the organizing committee, stated that the committee is developing the movement with confidence, pointing out that unreasonable orders issued as a result of textbook screening had been withdrawn twice in the past.

   Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Akamine Seiken and JCP member of the House of Councilors Nihi Sohei participated in the rally.

   Nihi spoke in solidarity, stating, “The Battle of Okinawa is a significant historical fact that has important bearings on the history of Japan and Okinawa as well as on the true meaning of the Pacific War. The distortion of the fact must not be condoned.”

   Democratic and Social Democratic party members of the Diet also took part in the rally.                                    - Akahata, June 16, 2007