U.S. marines walk along civilian beach carrying rifles

Japan Press Weekly

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

U.S. marines walk along civilian beach carrying rifles

About 10 fully-armed U.S. marines landed ashore in the Henoko fishing port in Okinawa's Nago City, triggering residents' anger.

At Henoko beach, residents have been holding a sit-in in protest against the construction of a new U.S. military base. On the morning of September 2, they saw three boats offshore. Shortly after that, the U.S servicemen walked toward the beach from the port. They were carrying guns over their shoulders and holding diving fins.

When a resident talked to one of the U.S. marines, he said they belong to U.S. Camp Schwab located next to the fishing port. He added that they swam about one hour and will continue the training exercise for about two weeks.

Okinawa Peace Committee representative Okubo Yasuhiro said that it must be reconnaissance training in accordance with amphibious assault training.

"Although we have seen U.S. military personnel often at Blue Beach (Kin Town), it was the first time that U.S. military personnel walked through residents' areas in Henoko. Since fully-armed servicemen walking on the beach leads to residents' fear, their entrance into residential areas is prohibited by the Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO)," he added.

- Akahata, September 9, 2009