2009 November 11 - 17 [
OKINAWA]
Rally organizers urge government to refuse hosting new U.S. base
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November 12, 2009
Representatives of the November 8 Rally organizing committee on November 11 made representations to the Japanese government, following the first such action conducted the previous day at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, demanding that Japan clearly state to the United States that it opposes the plan to move the U.S. Futenma base to another location in Okinawa.
On behalf of 21,000 participants in the November 8 Rally held under the slogan, “Immediately close the U.S. Futenma base and return the base site to Japan,” Ginowan City Mayor Iha Yoichi and Naha City Mayor Onaga Takeshi handed a letter of protest to the deputy chief cabinet secretaries and vice ministers.
The Rally organizers pressed the Democratic Party of Japan-led government to keep its promise made in the DPJ election “Manifesto” because the DPJ came in power with a promise to Okinawans that the party would make the request to the U.S. administration to remove the base from Okinawa or even from Japan altogether.
After handing over the petition, Mayor Onaga said, “The foreign minister did not state his position or indicate a concrete direction the government will take in the matter.”
Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Akamine Seiken accompanied the petitioners.
- Akahata, November 12, 2009
