Japan Press Weekly

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2016 February 3 - 9 [US FORCES]

Village assembly in Okinawa protests US warships’ entry into civil port

The assembly of Okianwa’s Ie Village on February 5 unanimously adopted a resolution and a statement in protest against U.S. military vessels’ entry into a civil port on Ie Island.

On January 26, two U.S. Army landing craft entered Ie Port. They transported equipment and servicemen of the U.S. Marine Corps and Army from Okinawa’s mainland for encampment training exercises. This is the first time that U.S. warships made a call at Ie Port. The U.S. military used to charter private ships for transportation of equipment and soldiers to the island.

On the day after the arrival, about 80 U.S. soldiers marched along the prefectural road, part of which is also used by children to walk to and from school, to the military training campsite. Villagers were shocked by this action.

The adopted documents point out that every year, when the U.S. military carries out training drills, some accidents are reported which could have brought about catastrophic consequences. The Ie village assembly protested against the U.S. forces and relevant authorities as a local assembly playing its responsible role in protecting residents’ lives and properties as well as their safe/peaceful livelihoods. It demanded a halt to U.S. warships’ port calls and U.S. military marches through private residential areas.