90,000 Okinawans gather in anti-U.S. base rally

Japan Press Weekly

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

90,000 Okinawans gather in anti-U.S. base rally

Okinawans on April 25 assembled in Yomitan Village in Okinawa Prefecture to demand the early closure and return of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station and to oppose the relocation of the base within the prefecture.

The organizing committee of the rally estimated that 90,000 people took part in the rally. Because of heavy traffic, even after the rally was over, many people were still headed towards the venue.

This was the first time that various groups, including all political parties in the prefectural assembly and civil groups, formed the organizing committee, regardless of ideological and political differences, to hold the rally in opposition to the government plan to move the Futenma base to anywhere in Okinawa.

To express their protest against the Hatoyama government which is sticking to the plan to transfer the Futenma base to other locations in the prefecture, participants wore something yellow to give the central government a yellow warning card. In addition, they held up placards and banners reading, “No base in Okinawa!” or “Remove the Futenma base immediately!”

All 41 municipal leaders in Okinawa attended the rally. The rally received a joint message from mayors of Amagi Town, Tokunoshima Town, and Isen Town of Tokunoshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, another candidate site that the government is considering building a new base as a replacement for the Futenma base.

Naha City Mayor Onaga Takeshi, co-representative of the organizing committee, made the opening speech and Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Chair Takamine Zenshin on behalf of the organizing committee delivered the keynote address.

As well as Okinawa Governor Nakaima Hirokazu, Mayor Iha Yoichi of Ginowan City hosting the U.S. Futenma base and two city mayors of candidate sites for a new base, Inamine Susumu of Nago City and Shimabuku Toshio of Uruma City, spoke at the rally.

At the rally, two school girls from Futenma High School which is located near the Futenma base appeared on the stage and stated, “We want not only Okinawans but also people across the country to recognize the base issue as their own problem.”

The rally adopted a resolution calling on the Japanese and the U.S. governments to agree to the immediate closure and return of the Futenma base, and to give up the plan to relocate the base within Okinawa. Delegates of the organizing committee plan to make representations to the central government on April 26.

Asked by reporters about his impression of the rally, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo, the only political party leader who participated in the rally, made the following comments:

“Today is a day that moves Japanese history. I’m impressed that so many Okinawans are uniting together against the government plan to relocate the Futenma base within the prefecture irrespective of ideological differences. This will influence the positions of both the Japanese and the U.S. governments. Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio must take into consideration the Okinawan people’s demands.”

- Akahata, April 26, 2010