anti-usbase2

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Citizens in symposium oppose reinforcement of U.S. Iwakuni Base2

About 450 citizens of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture on January 28 held a symposium on the planned relocation of U.S. aircraft carrier-based fighter units from the U.S. Navy Atsugi Air Facility in Kanagawa to the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station.

The Yamaguchi Prefectural Federation of Trade Unions (Zenroren-affiliate) and other organizations sponsored the symposium.

Asai Motofumi, Hiroshima City University-run Peace Study Institute director, in the keynote speech pointed out the only possibility of Japan being attacked will be when Japan takes part in U.S. wars. "Now that the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty setup has been used to incorporate Japan into U.S.-led wars, the urgent need now is for the plan to realign U.S. forces to be foiled," he said.

Shibata Moyuru, clerk and a residents' association representative, stressed the need to encourage local governments not to be weak-kneed over the base relocation plan. Some participant warned that Miyajima, a World Cultural Heritage, will be disturbed by noise pollution caused by U.S. fighters.

Kume Keisuke, Yamaguchi Prefectural Peace Committee representative, refuted the state's assessment of noise pollution. "A jointed Naval and Marine unit under the U.S. military realignment will drastically intensify their operations and exercises around Iwakuni. Any government assessment based on old data cannot convince us," he said.
- Akahata, January 29, 2006