June 1, 2017
A group of residents of Okinawa’s Ishigaki City on May 31 visited Tokyo to submit to the Defense Ministry 14,000 signatures opposing the deployment of a Ground Self-Defense Force unit to their island.
Combined with the 14,000 signatures, the number of signatures presented to the ministry totals 35,720, accounting for 70% of the city population.
Following the city mayor’s approval for preparations for the GSDF deployment, the Defense Ministry on May 17 provided to the city government a draft plan for a military facility to be built in the city.
In the submission, residents’ group co-leader Uehara Hidemasa pointed out that the major lesson learned from the 1945 Battle of Okinawa is that a military presence does not protect residents, and demanded the cancellation of the deployment.
Okinawa-elected opposition lawmakers, including Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Akamine Seiken, also participated in the submission.
Combined with the 14,000 signatures, the number of signatures presented to the ministry totals 35,720, accounting for 70% of the city population.
Following the city mayor’s approval for preparations for the GSDF deployment, the Defense Ministry on May 17 provided to the city government a draft plan for a military facility to be built in the city.
In the submission, residents’ group co-leader Uehara Hidemasa pointed out that the major lesson learned from the 1945 Battle of Okinawa is that a military presence does not protect residents, and demanded the cancellation of the deployment.
Okinawa-elected opposition lawmakers, including Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Akamine Seiken, also participated in the submission.
