Japan Press Weekly

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2009 March 4 - 10 [US FORCES]

Political parties and peace organizations stage protest against U.S. warship’s entry into Ishigaki Port

At the news that two U.S. minesweepers will enter Ishigaki Port, Ishigaki City in Okinawa, in April, local residents staged a protest saying, “Don’t use Ishigaki Port for military purposes.”

Political parties that included the Japanese Communist Party, labor unions, and peace organizations together held a news conference and a demonstration to express their firm opposition.

At a news conference, JCP Yaeyama District Committee Chair Ishigaki Mitsuo referred to a government official stating that a joint Japan-U.S. operation will be held in the Senkaku Islands and criticized it by saying, “U.S. warship’s visit (to Ishigaki) itself produces tension within the region.”

The U.S. minesweepers that are expected to enter the port are the USS Guardian (MSM5) and the USS Patriot (MCM7).

It is said that the U.S. Forces gave prior notification to Ishigaki City asking for permission to moor those ships from April 1 to 3 with the aim of “exchanging goodwill and friendship.”

A City official said that on the day before the U.S. Force’s notification, Consul General Kevin Maher himself called City Mayor Ohama Nagateru to ask for permission to moor the ships, but Ohama refused to give permission.

Ishigaki City with its “Peace Port Declaration” refused to permit U.S. warships to enter.

Civil and peace organizations plan to increase the opposition movement by calling on a fisheries corporative association and a tourist association to join the movement.