Japan Press Weekly

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2015 May 13 - 19 [POLITICS]

35,000 in Okinawa rally resolve to fight until Abe gov’t gives up Henoko base project

About 35,000 people wearing or holding something blue as a symbol of the sea of Henoko on May 17 crowded into a baseball stadium for a rally in Okinawa’s capital of Naha City, resolving to fight until Tokyo gives up on the construction of a new U.S. base in Nago’s Henoko district.

Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi condemned the Abe government for attempting to force the prefecture to accept the base construction by insisting that Okinawa should provide an alternative if it opposes the relocation to Henoko which, according to the government, is the only viable relocation site for the U.S. Futenma base. The governor stressed that to block the base construction is the only option and called on participants to step up efforts opposing the construction, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.

The rally’s organizing committee was jointly headed by local anti-base protestors, including Nago City Mayor Inamine Susumu, “Henoko Fund” co-head Goya Morimasa, and co-leader of a group supporting a petition adopted by a massive rally in September 2012 Taira Choei. They also delivered speeches in solidarity.

Inamine said, “Our anti-base struggle is seeping into the hearts and minds of people across Japan and is gaining support from people all over the world.”

Another co-head of the organizing committee Nakayama Kiku said to the participants, “The presence of military bases is not only directly related to wars but also is a prime example of violations of human rights.” Nakayama was mobilized for the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 as a military nurse when she was a senior high school student.

Well-known journalist Torigoe Shuntaro, former chief analyst at the Foreign Ministry Sato Masaru, and others from inside and outside Okinawa appeared on the stage to give solidarity speeches.

The rally also received a message of support from American film director Oliver Stone.

Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Ichida Tadayoshi (Upper House) together with JCP Lower House members, Akamine Seiken, Tamura Takaaki, and Majima Shozo joined the rally.

The organizing committee plans to visit Tokyo to hand to the Abe administration a resolution adopted in the rally.

Past related articles:
> Onaga to Defense Minister: Construction of new US base in Henoko is out of question [May 10, 2015]
> Okinawans launch ‘Henoko Fund’ to block base construction [April 10, 2015]
> Okinawa’s municipal leaders rally in Tokyo for withdrawal of Ospreys [January 28, 2013]
> Anti-Osprey deployment rallies held nationwide in solidarity with massive protest in Okinawa [September 11, 2012]