 Mayor opposes U.S. Marine unit relocation to Kadena base Okinawa's Kadena Town Mayor Miyagi Tokujitsu on June 2 expressed opposition to the reported relocation of a U.S. Marine helicopter unit from the Futenma base to the Kadena base, saying, "We cannot accept such a plan under any conditions." Miyagi said that the government has not given the town any information regarding the report. Stressing that Kadena residents have already been forced to endure unbearable burdens of noise pollution and accidents caused by the U.S. Kadena Air Base, he said, "We will respect residents' wishes in deciding what to do about it." It was reported that the Japan-U.S. talks on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, which ended on June 1, agreed to relocate a helicopter unit stationed at the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City to the U.S. Kadena Air Base and to construct a new heliport at the Kadena base. - Akahata, June 3, 2005 |