Local government officials, democracy & peace activists form human chain around US Futenma Air Station in demonstration for its removal from Okinawa
(Photo: NHK)Okinawa was returned to Japan in 1972, but the Okinawan people's hopes for peace were not fulfilled, and Okinawa was used to strengthen US military power. So, this monument is not an expression of joy nor victory.It's been sixty-five years since the U.S. military first started building their 30 military bases and facilities that now cover 20 percent of the island. It's been thirty-eight years since the U.S. "reverted" Okinawa to Japan, raising the expectation American bases would be closed.
-- Inscription on a monument at Kunigami Village, Cape Hedo, in northern Okinawa
How long will Okinawans wait for freedom, democracy, and peaceful self-determination?
From NHK, "Protesters calling for the closure of the US Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture formed a human chain around the base on Sunday."
The movement, led by local municipalities and peace organizations, coincided with the 38th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan from US occupation.
Despite the rainy weather, the protesters lined the 13-kilometer road surrounding the base, and raised their hands as they called for its closure and voiced their opposition to its relocation within the prefecture.
The organizer says about 17,000 local residents joined the protest along with labor union members from Okinawa and other parts of the country.
It was the first time in 5 years that a human chain had surrounded the base.
A 90-year-old woman who took part said she has lived in the area for 60 years and hopes the base will be gone soon...
The participants in Sunday's protest stressed their opposition to any move that would involve relocation within Okinawa.
(Photo: PressTV)
Comments
I was looking for your e-mail address so I wouldn’t have to fill your comment box with personal things... but no luck. Sorry for that!
I have been following your blog for a few days now, as well as the ten thousand things, and I really really enjoyed a lot of the things you wrote. I am traveling to Japan in July (Only for a month, though… which complicates things a bit) and was looking for things to do, maybe NGO’s I could visit, events I could participate. Unfortunately most of the websites I visited haven’t been updated in years or are in Japanese (Even some like the “save the dugong campaign center”) … I did find a few interesting organizations in Okinawa, though I haven’t had the opportunity to contact them yet.
So I was wondering if you can help me out… maybe give me some tips on where to look or where to go?
(My e-mail is stella_scheliga@hotmail.com)
Thanks a lot,
Bests
Stella
Interestingly, England's new PM has stated that their relationship with the USA needs adjustment to be "strong but not slavish". Hatoyama should take a cue from that.
It's crunch time. Is Japan stuck in the cold war role of US lacky, or is it capable of making its own (peaceful) way in the world? The time to decide is NOW.
Back to square one? Astonishing.