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2012 February 1 - 7 TOP3 [OKINAWA]

Ginowan mayoral election focusing on Futenma base issue kicks off

On February 5 in Ginowan City in Okinawa, anti-base candidate Iha Yoichi in his kick-off speech for the February 12 mayoral election said, “Until the United States declares its intent to return the Futenma base, I will jointly struggle with residents to win that objective.”

The election campaign was kicked off right after the revelation that the Okinawa Defense Bureau director last month ordered that a list of bureau employees and their relatives eligible to vote in the election be made available to him so he could lecture about the bureau’s position to push forward with the relocation of the U.S. Futenma base from Ginowan within the prefecture.

With support from the Japanese Communist, the Social Democratic, and the Okinawa Social Mass parties, Iha seeks victory in the election over his only rival Sakima Atsushi, backed by the former ruling block of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komei Party.

In his kick-off speech, Iha said, “It has been 16 years since the bilateral agreement on the return of the Futenma base was concluded. Ginowan citizens are still exposed to the daily danger of crashes of U.S. military aircraft. This situation must be rectified without delay.”

Along with leaders of the SDP and the Okinawa Social Mass Party, JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi joined Iha’s street campaign and gave a speech in support.

Ichida criticized the Okinawa Defense Bureau chief’s blatant attempt at interference in the election as a clear indication of the government intent to go ahead with the new base construction in defiance of Okinawa people’s opposition.

“Following Iha’s victory, let us unite in strength to urge the Japanese government to negotiate with the U.S. government from a position calling for the unconditional removal of the Futenma base,” said Ichida.