Okinawans call on government to withdraw engineering plan for new U.S. base
construction

In Okinawa's Nago City where the Japanese government is planning to
construct a new off-shore U.S. base, local residents are forcefully
demanding that the government withdraw its engineering plans that would
destroy the reef.

On November 1, the"Nago Council against the Construction of the U.S. On-Sea
Heliport and for Peace and Democratic Nago City Administration" held a
protest rally in front of the Nago City Hall.

Nago residents are particularly angry about the decision having been made
without listening to local opinion. The central, prefectural, and local
governments now say it would be difficult to construct the new base outside
the reef area.

Speaking on behalf of the organizers, Yasutsugu Tomihiro said, "The issue of
a 15-year limit to be imposed on the U.S. use of the base has yet to be
confirmed (by the government and the U.S. Forces). No substantial agreement
has been made on the use of the base. Nago citizens said 'No' to the new
base in a referendum. Despite all this, the government is readying for the
start of construction. " (end)