Japan Press Weekly

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2009 February 25 - March 3 [US FORCES]

Sasebo residents protest against U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier’s visit

In Nagasaki’s Sasebo City, about 200 residents held a rally in protest against the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier John C. Stennis’ entry into Sasebo Port.

Stennis arrived at Sasebo Port on February 27 for the purpose of crew members’ rest and for refueling and maintenance.

Sasebo Port has been visited by U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carriers for four consecutive years. Since February last year, they visit there every six months.

Speaking on behalf of the rally organizers, Uchida Takeshi, secretary of the Nagasaki Prefectural Action Committee against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty (Anpo-Haki), pointed out that the Stennis is strongly suspected of carrying nuclear weapons, expressing that Sasebo residents should not allow the U.S. forces to turn their city into a sortie base.

Japanese Communist Party House of Representatives member Akamine Seiken warned that the U.S. tries to use the whole of Kyushu including Sasebo as a stronghold for its preemptive attack strategy and that the U.S. forces and the Self-Defense Forces are frequently conducting joint training exercises nowadays. “What should ‘change’ is the subservient Japan-U.S. alliance,” he said.

After the rally adopted a resolution calling for a Sasebo City without nuclear weapons and U.S. bases, participants marched in demonstration through downtown Sasebo, where many U.S. servicemen hang out.