Government pressures assembly members into giving up opposition to U.S. base construction

In Okinawa's Nago City, the local assembly was unable to discuss a resolution calling for the withdrawal of the "basic plans" for the state-of-the-art U.S. air base to be constructed in the sea near the city, apparently due to pressure from the central government.

The Nago City Assembly was to discuss and put to a vote the resolution on August 8. The draft resolution had been approved by the Special Committee on U.S. Military Bases, but some committee members from the governing parties suddenly began to argue that the committee agreement was not unanimous. As the result, only two members, including a Japanese Communist Party member, remained as sponsors. The assembly rule requires at least three members to sponsor a resolution to be considered in the full assembly.

At a news conference, Yabe Mikio, the committee chair, revealed that outside pressure was used. He said that the minister in charge of Okinawa affairs elected from the House of Representatives proportional representation constituency was among those who put pressure on assembly members.

The committee chair criticized Nago Mayor Kishimoto Tateo for taking part in the July 29 meeting with the central government and Okinawa Prefecture on the basic plans concerning the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station without proper discussion with or report to the assembly and the committee. (end)