Japan Press Weekly

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2015 May 13 - 19 [POLITICS]

Japan’s peace researchers hold rally to support Okinawans’ anti-base movement

The Peace Studies Association of Japan (PSAJ) on May 12 held a rally in Tokyo in solidarity with Okinawan people’s struggle against the construction of a new U.S. base in Henoko. About 120 people, including students and citizens, took part in the rally.

The association was established in 1973 for the purpose of developing and encouraging peace studies in Japan and is composed of 880 individual members and 12 corporate members.

PSAJ President Sasaki Hiroshi in the opening address said, “The Henoko base issue has posed the basic question: “What is the true local autonomy?” and “How can the public will or public interest be represented in the political arena?”

From Okinawa, political science professor at Ryukyu University Shimabukuro Jun said, “The continued unwanted existence of U.S. bases violates Okinawans’ human rights. Their removal is the only solution.”

Endo Seiji, Seikei University political science professor, pointed out that development of security-related legislation and constitutional revision are closely related to the base construction issue in Okinawa. It is necessary for people on mainland Japan to maintain and strengthen their solidarity with Okinawan people, he added.