Japan Press Weekly

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2014 February 19 - 25 [OKINAWA]

Anti-base lunch hour demo marks 30th anniversary in Okinawa

A demonstration in Okinawa’s Naha City calling for “No Base!” took place for the 1,565th time on February 21 marking its 30th anniversary. During the lunch hour every Friday, participants march around the prefectural government office building.

This action began in February 1984 in protest against the deployment of U.S. nuclear-tipped Tomahawk cruise missiles to the Asia Pacific region.

Since then, the lunchtime demo has put up slogans reflecting the situation at the time. They now call for the resignation of Governor Nakaima Hirokazu who approved the landfill work for the construction of a new U.S. base.

In the 1,565th demo on this day, about 50 people participated chanting in chorus, “Nakaima, give us a proper explanation! Take responsibility for your breach of your election promise!”

Japanese Communist Party member Furugen Saneyoshi, former Lower House Dietmember, has taken part in this activity since the beginning. He said, “Governor Nakaima became merely a pawn of the Japanese and U.S. governments. He no longer has other option than to resign from office. Our struggle will never give in. We will persistently carry on the struggle.”