Protesters shout ‘Don’t turn Sukumo Port into a U.S. naval base!’

Japan Press Weekly

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

Protesters shout ‘Don’t turn Sukumo Port into a U.S. naval base!’

On the early morning of May 21, the U.S. Aegis missile destroyer O’Kane based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, made a call at Sukumo Port in Kochi Prefecture, western Japan.

About 180 people, including political party representatives and peace activists, held a rally in protest against the USS O’Kane’s entry into the port. They marched in demonstration holding a sign that read, “Don’t turn Sukumo Port into a U.S. naval base!” and shouting “O’Kane, go back to Hawaii!”

Speaking at the rally, Kochi Peace Committee Secretary Wada Tadaaki said, “The aim of this port call of a U.S. warship, the second since 2006, is to examine Sukumo Bay’s feasibility as a U.S. naval base serving the U.S. military strategy. Let us make efforts to frustrate the U.S. government’s attempt to accomplish this.”

Japanese Communist Party representative as well as representatives from the Democratic, Social Democratic, and New Socialist parties made speeches

JCP candidate for the House of Representative in the Kochi No.3 constituency Murakami Nobuo said, “The O’Kane is equipped with nuclear-capable Tomahawk cruise missiles. In order to prevent U.S. warships from bringing nuclear weapons into the Sukumo Bay, we will do all we can to increase our opposition and to heighten public commitment to never allow the U.S. vessels’ entry into Sukumo Port.”

The rally adopted a statement of protest against Sukumo City Mayor Nakanishi Seiji, the U.S. President, and the Commander of the O’Kane.

- Akahata, May 22, 2008