Support for local residents opposing U.S. helipad construction grows

Japan Press Weekly

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

Support for local residents opposing U.S. helipad construction grows

About 10,000 people have signed the petition demanding that the district court reject the government request to forcibly remove residents of the Takae district of Okinawa's Higashi Village, who are staging a sit-in protest against the construction of a helipad for U.S. forces in Northern Okinawa. The number of organizations that expressed support for the petition has reached 814.

Residents of the Takae district of Okinawa's Higashi Village opposing the U.S. helipad construction began the sit-in protest in July 2007 in front of the construction site.

The government last December asked the Naha District Court to eject the sit-in protesters on the grounds that they are obstructing traffic.

Sit-in protesters from the Association of Residents against a Helicopter Base maintain that the request made by the Okinawa Regional Defense Bureau is an act aimed at suppressing their legal activities to live in peace and preserve Takae's rich natural environment.

The signatures that call on the district court to reject the state's claim were to be submitted on January 27 in the first public hearing. The signature collection campaign will continue.

Okubo Yasuhiro, vice secretary of the Okinawa Prefectural Liaison Council for United Action for Abrogation of the Security Treaty stated, "The signatures collected within just one month will be a big blow to the central government and a great encouragement to Takae residents."

- Akahata, January 27, 2009