February 21, 2009
In the plenary session of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly on February 20, Japanese Communist Party representative Toguchi Osamu urged Governor Nakaima Hirokazu to oppose the Japan-U.S. agreement which requires Japan to build a new U.S. base off the Henoko district of Nago City as a precondition for relocating a part of the U.S. Marine Corps from Okinawa to Guam.
Pointing out that the prefectural assembly adopted a resolution last July in opposition to the construction of a base in the Henoko district, Toguchi stated, “The governor should clearly express opposition to the (two governments’) outrageous attempt to stifle Okinawans’ opposition.”
Governor Nakaima answered that the agreement “promises steady implementation of relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam and thus leads to reduction of Okinawans’ base burdens,” indicating that he does not intend to oppose the agreement signed by the two countries.
On the same day, members of opposition parties in the prefectural assembly handed the assembly’s resolution in opposition to the new U.S. base construction to Ike Skelton, the House Armed Services Committee chairman of the U.S. Congress who is visiting Okinawa, and demanded that the U.S. government respect Okinawa residents’ demands.
Pointing out that the prefectural assembly adopted a resolution last July in opposition to the construction of a base in the Henoko district, Toguchi stated, “The governor should clearly express opposition to the (two governments’) outrageous attempt to stifle Okinawans’ opposition.”
Governor Nakaima answered that the agreement “promises steady implementation of relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam and thus leads to reduction of Okinawans’ base burdens,” indicating that he does not intend to oppose the agreement signed by the two countries.
On the same day, members of opposition parties in the prefectural assembly handed the assembly’s resolution in opposition to the new U.S. base construction to Ike Skelton, the House Armed Services Committee chairman of the U.S. Congress who is visiting Okinawa, and demanded that the U.S. government respect Okinawa residents’ demands.
