Anti-Security Treaty groups meet in Okinawa to develop anti-base struggles

Japan Press Weekly

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

Anti-Security Treaty groups meet in Okinawa to develop anti-base struggles

The Central Action Committee against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty (Anpo-Haki) held a meeting on September 26-27 in Naha City, Okinawa, with about 150 activists attending to discuss the struggle against U.S. bases in Japan, specifically its military realignment under the new political situation.

In the opening speech, Shibata Masako, National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) vice president, stressed the need to boost public opinion for the abrogation of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.

Higashimori Hideo, Anpo-Haki vice secretary general, gave the keynote report stating that the new Democratic Party-led coalition government that replaced the Liberal Democratic-Komei government is calling for a "review of the U.S. military realignment in Japan" and revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, an epoch-making policy.

Based on these new conditions, "we are called upon to struggle to get the U.S. military realignment in Japan canceled," he added.

He proposed petitioning the government for implementing anti-base policies, developing anti-base struggles by sharing experiences nationwide, and holding various events next year on the 50th anniversary of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.

On behalf of the Japanese Communist Party, House of Councilors member Akamine Seiken stated that the LDP and the Komei Party in Okinawa now have no Dietmembers in either house. The governor, who supports the U.S. military realignment plan, lost his major political base. Opposition parties in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly, including the JCP, will hold a joint rally in November, he added.

Nakamoto Koshin from the Nago Council against the Construction of the U.S. On-Sea Heliport and for Peace reported that citizens' sit-in struggle has for 13 years successfully stopped the U.S. new air base plan from being implemented at the Henoko district of Nago City and the struggle has reached the final stage.

A member of the Japan Federation of Democratic Medical Institutions reported that its 1,100 members have visited Henoko in a show of solidarity during the past five years.

Isa Masatsugu from Higashi Village in northern Okinawa reported that the Association of Residents against the Helicopter Pad has filed a suit against the government agency for trying to exclude villagers from the anti-helipad sit-in action.

A member of the association against the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier's homeporting at Yokosuka Port in Kanagawa Prefecture reported that citizens rejected the reelection of the former mayor who pushed for the homeporting. The association is determined to further call for the withdrawal of the homeporting agreement, he added.

- Akahata, September 27, 28, 2009