February 16, 2011
Former Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio has recently stated that he had stressed the “deterrent role” of the U.S. Marines in Okinawa as an “expedient excuse” to justify his party breaking its promise to move the U.S. Futenma base out of Okinawa or even out of Japan. His “deterrent was an expedient” remark has come under fire from Okinawans.
Hatoyama on February 13 in an interview with the Ryukyu Shimpo admitted that the Democratic Party of Japan had not had concrete strategies or a concrete prospect to keep its campaign promise made in the 2009 general election to relocate the base at least outside of Okinawa.
Inamine Susumu, mayor of Nago City, a possible site for the transfer of the base in question, on February 14 commented on Hatoyama’s latest statement, stating that an agreement Hatoyama made with the United States on moving the Futenma base to Henoko in Nago City “has no longer a leg to stand on.”
Inamine stated, “Now that the ‘deterrent’ of the U.S. Marines has turned out to be an ‘expedient excuse’, present Prime Minister Kan Naoto, who proclaims adherence to the Hatoyama agreement, has also lost the leg to stand on.” The anti-base mayor added, “The DPJ should go back to its original intention to move the base at least out of Okinawa and should demand that United States review the agreement.”
In the 2009 general election, voters chose the DPJ campaign pledge over that of the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties. The DPJ commitment at that time was a factor in bringing an end to the pro-base LDP-Komei government. Hatoyama’s “deterrent was an expedient” statement clearly reveals that the DPJ, as a party that received a public mandate, is not qualified to carry out politics.
When the former prime minister was apologizing for his party’s promise-breaking last May, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo was in the United States meeting with Kevin K. Maher, director of the Office of Japan Affairs of the U.S. State Department. Shii was telling him that the only way to settle the base issue is to unconditionally remove it from Japan.
Hatoyama on February 13 in an interview with the Ryukyu Shimpo admitted that the Democratic Party of Japan had not had concrete strategies or a concrete prospect to keep its campaign promise made in the 2009 general election to relocate the base at least outside of Okinawa.
Inamine Susumu, mayor of Nago City, a possible site for the transfer of the base in question, on February 14 commented on Hatoyama’s latest statement, stating that an agreement Hatoyama made with the United States on moving the Futenma base to Henoko in Nago City “has no longer a leg to stand on.”
Inamine stated, “Now that the ‘deterrent’ of the U.S. Marines has turned out to be an ‘expedient excuse’, present Prime Minister Kan Naoto, who proclaims adherence to the Hatoyama agreement, has also lost the leg to stand on.” The anti-base mayor added, “The DPJ should go back to its original intention to move the base at least out of Okinawa and should demand that United States review the agreement.”
In the 2009 general election, voters chose the DPJ campaign pledge over that of the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties. The DPJ commitment at that time was a factor in bringing an end to the pro-base LDP-Komei government. Hatoyama’s “deterrent was an expedient” statement clearly reveals that the DPJ, as a party that received a public mandate, is not qualified to carry out politics.
When the former prime minister was apologizing for his party’s promise-breaking last May, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo was in the United States meeting with Kevin K. Maher, director of the Office of Japan Affairs of the U.S. State Department. Shii was telling him that the only way to settle the base issue is to unconditionally remove it from Japan.
