 60,000 Zama citizens sign names against coming of U.S. Army Ist Corps HQ In just three weeks, 60,000 citizens - nearly half of Zama's population - have signed the petition to the government demanding that the U.S. plan to relocate the U.S. Army First Corps Command to U.S. Army Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture be canceled. The signature collection drive, with the goal of more than half of the population, has been promoted since April 18 by the Zama Liaison Council, represented by Mayor Hoshino Katsuji. The Liaison Council is composed of the city, the 26 member-city assembly, and the association of neighborhood bodies. They called on citizens to sign the petition at events and at terminal stations. Executive members of each neighborhood self-governing body visited residents to share their views on the opposition to the increased operational capabilities of the camp. Nakazawa Kunio, on behalf of the three Japanese Communist Party members of the city assembly, stated, "Many signatures have been collected within a short period of a time. This shows how firmly Zama citizens are opposed to the relocation plan. The central government must respect the residents' opinion. The city administration, assembly, and residents' associations will join forces till the plan is completely withdrawn." - Akahata, May 14, 2005 |