Shii talks with Okinawa’s municipal heads on Futenma base issue

Japan Press Weekly

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Shii talks with Okinawa’s municipal heads on Futenma base issue

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on June 7 held meetings with Okinawa’s three municipal heads who are key figures opposing the construction of a new U.S. base in Okinawa.

Shii promised them that the JCP will strive to abolish the Japan-U.S. agreement on the U.S. Futenma base in solidarity with Okinawans.

In Nago City, Shii met with Mayor Inamine Susumu who has consistently opposed the new U.S. base construction in the Henoko district of Nago City.

Regarding a joint opinion poll of Ryukyu Shimpo and Mainichi Shimbun showing that 84 percent of the respondents oppose a new base in Henoko, Inamine said, “This represents the demand of Okinawan people, including those in business.” He also stated, “The bilateral agreement must be withdrawn. It is important to inform the people living outside Okinawa of the real situation in Okinawa. We have to further increase our movement to voice our demands stronger and louder than ever.”

After the meeting, Shii visited a tent community at the beach of Henoko where Nago citizens have been waging a sit-in struggle against the plan to construct a new U.S. base in the sea off Henoko. The sit-in action has continued for 2,240 days.

In the meeting with Shii, Iha Yoichi, mayor of Ginowan City where the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station is located, said, “Many residents oppose the plan to relocate the Futenma base to Henoko and think that the relocation can’t solve any of the problems concerning the Futenma base. An Okinawa without military bases is our demand.”

Iha emphasized the importance of the withdrawal of U.S. Marines from Okinawa, citing the U.S. government’s principle that it will make no attempt to impose military bases on a nation where people do not welcome them.

When Shii met with Miyagi Tokujitsu, mayor of Kadena Town where the U.S. Air Force Kadena Base is located, Miyagi referred to Shii’s visit to the U.S. and said, “Dietmembers who pretend to side with Okinawans don’t say anything to the U.S. government. The JCP, however, sent its leader to the U.S. and raised the issue of opposition they don’t want to listen to. This is significant.”

Later on the same day, Shii for the first time held talks with Okinawa Governor Nakaima Hirokazu and exchanged views on the Futenma base issue.

- Akahata, June 8, 2010