Japan Press Weekly

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2014 January 15 - 21 [JCP]

Shii: Anti-US base mayor’s re-election marks victory for all Okinawans

In Okinawa’s Nago City mayoral election on January 19, the candidate opposed to the planned “relocation” of the U.S. Futenma base in Okinawa’s Ginowan City to Nago, was elected.

Inamine Susumu, the incumbent mayor backed by opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist Party, garnered about 56% of the vote and beat the other pro-U.S. base runner strongly supported by the Abe government. Regarding the election results, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo made the following comment (excerpts):

This election outcome is a historic victory for the people of Okinawa. The central government should take the results seriously and abandon its plan to build a new U.S. base in the Henoko district of Nago City.

The chief cabinet secretary and the secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have insisted that it is the national government that decides whether to build a U.S. military base or not. There is still the strong possibility that the central government and ruling parties will push ahead with the construction project in defiance of local people’s will.

It is vital to further develop the movement nationwide against the planned base construction and overwhelm the Japanese and U.S. administrations with strong public opposition. The JCP is determined to continue to work together with Okinawan people to force the two governments to give up their plan and unconditionally remove the U.S. Futenma base from Okinawa.


Past related article:
> Incumbent candidate makes a ‘No base’ promise in Nago mayoral race [December 7, 2013]