National Governors' Association requests SOFA be reviewed

The National Governors' Association for the first time adopted a resolution that includes a call for a drastic review of the Status of U.S. Forces in Japan Agreement (SOFA). This was part of the 56 proposals and requests adopted at the association's conference in Okinawa Prefecture on July 18 concerning the national budget for fiscal 2003.

Prefectural governors decided to request reviewing SOFA to the national government in order to protect citizens' lives, their human rights, and the environment from dangerous incidents and accidents caused by U.S. military personnel.

The Oita governor emphasized that as head of local government responsible for its residents' safety, he has demanded that the national government take measures to solve all problems arising from military bases. "The national government should show us a direction to take to solve the problems," said the governor whose prefecture hosts U.S. Marines' live fire exercises.

Governors confirmed the emergency proposal regarding the wartime bills they adopted last month, which demanded that the central government specify the duties and roles of local public organizations and discuss the bills more carefully in order to achieve a national agreement. (end)