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Ground SDF's 'survival training' on uninhabited island criticized In the southern Japanese island of Amami Oshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, activists from local Japanese Communist Party and democratic organizations held a protest rally at the Ground Self-Defense Force's exercises for anti-guerrilla warfare on an uninhabited island neaby. About 150 GSDF Western Army personnel, after staying in a park in Amami Oshima Island (May 10-13), conducted "survival" and anti-guerrilla warfare training on Eniya Island. A Maritime SDF support ship arrived at an island near Eniya Island on May 11. During the exercises, Amami residents, including fishers, were kept away from the islet. About 70 members of the Amami County Council for the Defense of Amami's Nature and Peace on May 13 held a rally in Amami Oshima Island to protest against these exercises. Kodama Saburo, Amami Peace Committee secretary, stated, "We use the isolated island as a children's open-air environmental awareness site every year. How can the SDF be allowed to use the island to train soldiers for killing others?" Participants adopted an appeal calling on Amami islanders, stating, "This military training took place when the Japan-U.S. agreement on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan was finalized and the SDF is further thrown into U.S. military operations. Let's stop such moves." - Akahata, May 14, 2006 |
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