2009 November 11 - 17 [
OKINAWA]
Okinawans criticize Kanagawa governor
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November 11, 2009
Okinawans are infuriated by the head of the liaison council of governors of 14 prefectures hosting U.S. military bases for speaking in favor of the controversial plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station from Ginowan City to the coastal area of Nago City.
Kanagawa Governor Matsuzawa Shigefumi made the remark on November 5 during a speech he gave at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C.
On November 10, representatives of the organizing committee of the November 8 Rally, in which 21,000 Okinawans voiced their opposition to the plan to construct a new base in the Henoko district of Nago City as the replacement for the Futenma base, visited the Kanagawa Prefectural Government Office to file a protest demanding that Matsuzawa Shigefumi retract the remark.
He stated, “It will be impossible to move it (the Futenma base) out of Okinawa or Japan proper. To integrate it into the U.S. Kadena Air Force Base will also be extremely difficult. Taking other options into considerations, I can see that the present plan to relocate it to the Henoko district will be the only viable solution.” He showed his recognition that the Hatoyama government should push ahead with the current plan based on Japan-U.S. agreements.
Some participants in the November 8 Rally said, “We thought he shared the same difficulties as we have in Okinawa. We’re very disturbed by his statement.” Others said, “His remark is unforgivable for Okinawans because it is as if he is forcing us to put up with more burdens associated with U.S. military bases here.”
- Akahata, November 11, 2009
