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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Cities in Hiroshima Prefecture will keep opposing the stationing of U.S. aircraft at Iwakuni base

A liaison council consisting of local governments and residents' organizations in Hiroshima Prefecture on May 15 held a meeting in Hatsukaichi City Office and resolved that the council will continue to make representations to the central government, calling for the withdrawal of the plan to relocate a U.S. carrier-borne airwing to the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture, even though the U.S. military realignment plan was agreed upon by the Japanese and U.S. governments.

Hatsukaichi City Mayor Yamashita Saburo showed his intention to request early next week that the central government retract the relocation plan. Pointing out that the moving in of the U.S. carrier-borne airwing will make Iwakuni base the largest in the Far East and create greater anxieties among residents, Yamashita said, "Very regrettably, residents' concerns have failed to reach the central government, but we will keep challenging (the decision)."

Otake City Mayor Nakagawa Hiroshi expressed his concern about increased noise pollution saying, "Much larger areas than I expected will be affected."

Iwakuni City Mayor Ihara Katsusuke, participating in the meeting as an observer, said that as a newly founded city through the merger, Iwakuni City will again convey its opposition to the central government.
- Akahata, May 16, 2006