Japan Press Weekly

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2015 June 24 - 30 [POLITICS]

Onaga demands halt to US base construction at memorial ceremony

A memorial service for those who died in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa took place on June 23 at the Peace Memorial Park in Okinawa’s Itoman City. In the presence of Japan’s Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi demanded that Tokyo and Washington drop their plan to construct a new U.S. base in the Henoko coastal district.

On that day 70 years ago, the Japanese garrisons deployed in Okinawa were finally defeated by the U.S. forces.

The ceremony was attended by about 5,400 people from inside and outside of the prefecture. Among the attendees were other relevant Cabinet ministers and lawmakers from Okinawa, including Japanese Communist Party representative Akamine Seiken.

Governor Onaga stated in his speech that Okinawans cannot accept the plan to “relocate” the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station to Henoko under the pretext of eliminating various risks associated with the station. “The central government should make a decision to stop the construction work without being held back by fixed ideas,” he stressed.

On the premises at the park, there are many memorial stones called “The Cornerstone of Peace”, which list the names of those killed in the bloodiest battles in Okinawa. Along with 87 people added this year, the number of inscribed names totals 241,336.

Abe booed by audience

“Go home!” “How dare you come here?”

When PM Abe took the rostrum in the ceremony, participants suddenly began to hackle him.

Abe hypocritically stated in his address that Japanese people should have pride in the path of peace they have followed since the end of World War II as well as make more sustained efforts to establish world peace.

On the previous day, the ruling coalition led by Abe forcibly decided to extend the current Diet session for 95 days in a bid to enact the government-proposed war legislation. The prime minister has been arrogantly hypocritical.

Abe also said that his administration will do its utmost to alleviate the burden associated with the U.S. military presence being shouldered by the people of Okinawa.

Every recent opinion poll shows that more than 80% of Okinawans oppose the U.S. base construction in Henoko.

PM Abe, who is pushing forward with the construction project in defiance of overwhelming local public opposition, is not in any position to talk about “alleviation” of the burden carried by local residents.

Past related article:
> Onaga: Okinawans’ opposition to base construction wins sympathy in US [June 5, 2015]