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Hiroshima's 5 cities issue appeal in opposition to U.S. carrier-based aircraft's relocation to Iwakuni

Five cities in Hiroshima Prefecture on July 16 held a symposium and adopted an urgent appeal calling for the withdrawal of the plan to relocate U.S. carrier-borne aircraft units from the U.S. Atsugi Naval Air Facility in Kanagawa Prefecture to the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture, located near these cities.

The symposium, in which about 1,100 people took part, was held in Hatsukaichi City under the auspices of an organizing committee consisting of governments of the five cities that are Hiroshima, Miyoshi, Otake, Hatsuka-ichi, and Etajima.

Ihara Katsusuke, the mayor of Iwakuni City, in the keynote speech pointed out that in the referendum held in the city the majority of eligible voters expressed opposition to the plan, and emphasized that as mayor he must make efforts to meet the residents' demand.

He refuted the argument that the city should accept the plan in return for increased economic measures from the state, saying, "Iwakuni has long received a portion of the state defense budget, but it has not helped development of the city. It's wrong to try to develop the local area by depending on the U.S. base. Without self-reliance we can not make a livable city."

The Iwakuni mayor added, "True, it's not easy for one mayor to change state policy. But it's not going to be easy for the state to implement in Iwakuni the plan to realign U.S. forces."

Hiroshima Mayor Akiba Tadatoshi criticized the state for pressing local governments to accept the realignment plan in return for financial assistance, saying, "It goes against democracy for the government to trample down the will of the citizens by dangling money in front of them." He emphasized that the state must heed the voice of the citizens in the cities and the region because it is the principle of the Japanese Constitution as well as a fundamental principle of democracy.

"I will make efforts in collaboration with various movements in and out of Japan, including the World Conference of Mayors for Peace over which I preside," Akiba added.

Yoshida Masahiro, the chief priest of the Daishoin Buddhist temple situated on Miyajima island, a world heritage site located in Hiroshima Bay, reported that noise pollution caused by U.S. aircraft from the Iwakuni base began to hinder the training of monks. They must recite a sutra called Shingon one million times at the top of Misen mountain, and Misen is one of the only three sites in Japan designated for such training. Pointing out that because of the quietness the tradition has been maintained for 1,200 years since Buddhist priest Kukai founded Miyajima, Yoshida questioned whether they have to accept the noise.

With regard to the state government position that defense policy is handled exclusively by the state, Hatsuka-ichi Mayor Yamashita Saburo said that mayors are tasked with safeguarding residents.

The liaison council composed of Hiroshima Prefecture, the five cities, and citizen organizations and labor unions has petitioned the central government to withdraw the relocation plan four times since last year.
- Akahata, July 16 & 17, 2006