JCP Chair Shii and Ginowan Mayor Iha agree to demand unconditional removal of Futenma base

Japan Press Weekly

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JCP Chair Shii and Ginowan Mayor Iha agree to demand unconditional removal of Futenma base

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on December 10 held talks with Mayor Iha Yoichi of Ginowan City, Okinawa at the JCP head office, and agreed on the need to call for the unconditional withdrawal of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station that occupies central Ginowan.

Citing the U.S. draft, “Overseas Environmental Impact Statement-Guam and CNMI Military Relocation” on “Relocating Marines from Okinawa” issued in November 2009, Iha stated that about 8,600 U.S. Marines allegedly to be redeployed from Okinawa to Guam are composed of not only commissioned officers (Officer, Field Grade, and Company Grade) but enlisted personnel (Junior Enlisted, Non-Commissioned Officer, and Senior Enlisted).

Now that the draft mentions that Marines to be deployed to Guam include combat troops, this requires further study, Iha added.

Shii replied, “The Japanese government has repeatedly explained that at least 10,000 out of about 12,000 Marines will remain in Okinawa. As regards unit composition and actual numbers to be redeployed to Guam, further studies should be made and the Japanese government is called upon to clarify this point in the Diet.”

The U.S. government has officially claimed that Japan accepted the ‘relocation’ of the Futenma air base operation to Nago, which actually means a go ahead to constructing a state-of-the-art air base for the Marines, Shii added.

Shii stressed, “The presence of U.S. Marines in Okinawa does not help ensure Japan’s peace. Why should we provide the U.S. with a new air base site as the replacement for Futenma, whether it will be inside or outside of Okinawa? As referred to by a U.S. military official in regard to the safety of nearby civilian residents, the Futenma base is ‘most dangerous in the world.’ Apparently, the easiest solution to this issue is to call for the closure and withdrawal of the Marine air base without condition. Let’s urge the Japanese government to hold negotiations with the U.S. government with this position!”

Iha stated, “Ginowan City has been maintaining that ‘relocation’ will not make the city free from the danger associated with operations at the air base. The Japanese government is to blame for prioritizing the agreed ‘relocation’ over the urgent task of removing the danger of the base.”

- Akahata, December 11, 2009