Iha calls for Futenma base removal in campaign for Okinawa governor

Japan Press Weekly

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Iha calls for Futenma base removal in campaign for Okinawa governor

Okinawa’s gubernatorial candidate Iha Yoichi on October 27 repeated his call for the immediate closure of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station and return of its site to Okinawa.

He made the announcement as part of his election platform for the gubernatorial election scheduled for November 28.

“My victory will lead to a termination of the Futenma base relocation plan to Henoko,” said Iha, expressing that he will demand a systematic reduction of U.S. bases in Okinawa and develop the local economy by promoting civil utilization of former base sites.

Asked by a reporter if his position on the Futenma issue entails any difference from that of his rival, incumbent Nakaima Hirokazu, Iha answered, “They are clearly different.”

He went on to say, “For seven and a half years during my tenure as the Ginowan City mayor, I consistently opposed the relocation of the Futenma base within the prefecture. Nakaima just started calling for the base to be moved outside Okinawa right before the election, and still leaves room for accepting a new base in the prefecture.”

Iha is backed by the Japanese Communist, Social Democratic, and Okinawa Social Mass parties.

- Akahata, October 28, 2010