Okinawans Rally in Opposition to US Military Bases

[Judi Lynn]

Okinawans Rally in Opposition to US Military Bases
By Steve Herman
Okinawa, Japan
05 March 2006

Thousands of people have rallied Sunday on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa to express continuing opposition to the presence of U.S. military bases there. The event was held just weeks before a base realignment plan, negotiated by Japan and the United States, is to be finalized.

Okinawans on Sunday expressed their feelings about the U.S. military presence here through music, rather than marches.
(snip)

There are some 25,000 American military personnel assigned to Okinawa at numerous Marine camps, Naval bases and smaller facilities as part of the U.S. commitment of a bilateral alliance to defend Japan.

Okinawans want U.S. military personnel to leave, citing crimes committed by U.S. troops, aircraft noise and the potential danger from crashes of helicopters and jets.
(snip/...)

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-03-05-voa10.cfm

[Retired AF Dem]

1. I wonder how many of these protesters will be directly

affected financially if we moved out? My guess none.

[chelsea0011]

2. Do the bases still exist because mainland Japan still has

not requested they leave?

[Catch22Dem]

3. Best assignment I ever had, but there's something they don't tell you

Usually, the Okinawans protest the American AND Japanese bases on the same day. The media makes it out like there's some tention between Okinawans and Americans. That's simply not true. The Okinawans object to ANY military presence on their island and that includes Japanese military.

[struggle4progress]

4. Tens of thousands protest against US military relocation plan in Japan

<snip> According to organizers, an estimated 35,000 protesters joined the two-hour rally in Ginowan, Okinawa prefecture, urging the immediate closure the U.S. Marine Corps Futemma Air Station in the city and its relocation outside Okinawa. <snip>

In October, Tokyo and Washington approved a realignment plan of U.S. troops in Japan, under which the Futemma Air Station's function is to be moved from Ginowan to Camp Schwab in Nago, which is also in Okinawa.

Okinawa hosts a large part of the 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan. Local residents have long complained about noise, social problems and crimes associated with the bases.

The participants adopted a resolution at the end of the gathering, demanding that the Japanese government respect local opinions against the relocation and realignment plans. <snip>

http://english.people.com.cn/200603/05/eng20060305_248094.html

[NVMojo]

5. I have a high school friend teaching US kids over there at a Marine

base in Okinawa.... the US is not loved anymore ...