Firm opposition to strengthening U.S. base functions brings all JCP candidates to Iwakuni city assembly

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Firm opposition to strengthening U.S. base functions brings all JCP candidates to Iwakuni city assembly

By calling for firm opposition to the strengthening of local U.S. base functions, all four Japanese Communist Party candidates were elected on in the October 22 election of Iwakuni City Assembly in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Iwakuni City hosts the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station where the Japanese and U.S. governments are planning to relocate a U.S. carrier-borne aircraft unit as part of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.

This election result gave local JCP members and supporters confidence because residents have not bowed to pressure from the government to accept the planned relocation.

During the campaign, the JCP candidates appealed to residents to vote for them in order to express firm opposition to the plan to strengthen the U.S. base functions.

They struggled against attacks by relocation-supporting candidates who were spreading groundless rumors that it is impossible to halt the planned relocation already decided by the government and that rejection of the plan will lead the city to a financial collapse.

In the city referendum on the plan to deploy a carrier-based U.S. aircraft unit to the Iwakuni base on March 12, nearly 90 percent of voters voted against the planned deployment.

On April 23, Iwakuni Mayor Ihara Katsusuke, opposing the realignment plan, was reelected. The JCP supported him during the election campaign.

A 60-year-old staff member of a disabled persons' facility in the city said, "I think the election result shows that residents have recognized the tremendous efforts made by the JCP since the city referendum."

A woman running a caf_ in front of Iwakuni Station, 59, said, "Most of the candidates have avoided talking about the planned relocation during the campaign. In order to have residents' opposition to the plan influence the local assembly, the JCP's role will be significant."
- Akahata, October 24, 2006