July 8, 2015
Japanese Communist Party lawmakers made representations to the Foreign and Defense ministries on July 7, urging them to push the U.S. military to stop its marching drills on a children’s school route in Okinawa.
In late June, some residents of the Takae district in Okinawa’s Higashi Village saw U.S. servicemen armed with guns march along the prefectural road. The road is also used by children to walk to and from school. In Takae, the Japanese government is moving ahead with the construction of U.S. military helipads in defiance of strong local opposition.
JCP Dietmembers Akamine Seiken and Nihi Sohei protested to the ministries, showing photographs of the march. They demanded that the government carry out a thorough investigation into the issue and press the U.S. authorities to halt such armed exercises immediately.
Referring to the fact that the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) stated in its final report in 1996 that the U.S. military will refrain from conducting military exercises on public roads, the JCP parliamentarians pointed out that holding such drills goes against the SACO agreement.
Ministry officials gave no clear answer, and just stated that they have yet to confirm the facts.
Nihi again stressed that it is unlawful for U.S. soldiers carrying rifles to march along a road being used by schoolchildren.
Past related article:
> Okinawans’ sit-in protest against new US military helipads marks 7th anniversary [June 30, 2015]
In late June, some residents of the Takae district in Okinawa’s Higashi Village saw U.S. servicemen armed with guns march along the prefectural road. The road is also used by children to walk to and from school. In Takae, the Japanese government is moving ahead with the construction of U.S. military helipads in defiance of strong local opposition.
JCP Dietmembers Akamine Seiken and Nihi Sohei protested to the ministries, showing photographs of the march. They demanded that the government carry out a thorough investigation into the issue and press the U.S. authorities to halt such armed exercises immediately.
Referring to the fact that the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) stated in its final report in 1996 that the U.S. military will refrain from conducting military exercises on public roads, the JCP parliamentarians pointed out that holding such drills goes against the SACO agreement.
Ministry officials gave no clear answer, and just stated that they have yet to confirm the facts.
Nihi again stressed that it is unlawful for U.S. soldiers carrying rifles to march along a road being used by schoolchildren.
Past related article:
> Okinawans’ sit-in protest against new US military helipads marks 7th anniversary [June 30, 2015]
