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2015 May 27 - June 2 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Okinawa Governor tells US Congresspersons of opposition to Henoko base construction

Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi met with U.S. Congresspersons in Hawaii on May 27 and 28 (local time), telling them about Okinawans’ strong opposition to the U.S. and Japanese governments’ plan to construct a new U.S. base in the Henoko coastal area in Nago City.

The delegation from Okinawa, including Nago City Mayor Inamine Susumu and Japanese Communist Party member of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Toguchi Osamu, is visiting the U.S. from May 27 to June 5. Hawaii is the first leg of their tour.

On the first day, the delegates met Senator Mazie Hirono and Representative Tulsi Gabbard in Honolulu. The two Congresspersons, both elected from Hawaii, belong to the House Armed Services Committee.

In the meeting, Onaga expressed his determination to block the Henoko base construction by exercising his full authority as governor, referring to the historical fact that just after the end of World War II the U.S. military forcibly took Okinawans’ land to build its bases.

On the following day, the Okinawan representatives had a talk with Senator Brian Schatz, a member of the House Subcommittee on Defense. The Senator talked about the need to make it clear how the construction project in question was approved in the Pentagon. He added that pushing ahead with the project without obtaining understanding from local people will seriously affect the ties between the two countries for a long time to come.


Past related articles:
> Anti-base human chain in Tokyo shows solidarity with Okinawans [May 25&26, 2015]
> Onaga requests PM to convey Okinawa’s opposition to new US base to Obama [April 18, 2015]