Naha assembly calls for bilateral agreement on Futenma relocation to be scrapped

Japan Press Weekly

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Naha assembly calls for bilateral agreement on Futenma relocation to be scrapped

The Naha City Assmbly on June 7 adopted the first resolution in Okinawa calling for the withdrawal of the recent Japan-U.S. agreement on relocating the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station to the Henoko district of Okinawa’s Nago City.

The resolution was jointly proposed by six parties including Liberal Democratic, Democratic, and Japanese Communist parties. It was unanimously adopted after members of the Political Group of Okinawa Revolution, a local party affiliated with the ruling People’s New Party, walked out of the assembly session.

It expresses strong protest against the central government, condemning the fact that it “has given higher priority to the U.S. government’s demands than Okinawans’ consensus against the relocation of the Futenma base.”

The assembly plans to send the resolution to the Japanese prime minister, foreign minister, Lower House speaker, and Upper House president as well as U.S. President Obama.

- Akahata, June 8, 2010