Japan Peace Conference calls for a base-free Japan

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

Japan Peace Conference calls for a base-free Japan

The 2006 Japan Peace Conference that called for a base-free and military alliance-free Japan was held from December 7 to 10 in Iwakuni City (Yamaguchi Prefecture) to which the Japanese and U.S. governments are planning to relocate a U.S. carrier-borne aircraft unit.

An international symposium was held on the first two days under the theme, "No to U.S. bases! Let us create a U.S. base-free Asia and world." Panelists from the U.S., Guam, and South Korea and some 130 Japanese participants shared their experiences in struggles against the strengthening of U.S. bases in Asia and the Pacific region.

T. J. Johnson, a councilmember of Olympia in Washington State, reported on the enactment of a nuclear-free zone ordinance in the city council and local protests against the Iraq war, stressing the role of municipalities to protect residents' safety.

Debbie Quinata, representing Guam's human rights group "Chamoru Nation," stated that a U.S. plan to expand its bases in Guam, including the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps units from Okinawa, will further threaten residents' health and human rights.

Kang Jeong Koo from the Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea (SPARK) organization reported on the U.S. military realignment in South Korea, including the "strategic flexibility" policy that the U.S. forces in South Korea are promoting and the expansion of the U.S. base in Pyeongtaek, as well as on the people's struggles against these moves.

Special reports were made by participants from Iwakuni, Yokosuka, and Okinawa, where anti-base movements have achieved major progress this year. An Iwakuni representative spoke about the city referendum in March in which 87 percent of voters expressed opposition to the planned relocation of the carrier-borne aircraft unit to the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station.

Participants confirmed that they will continue to exchange information and develop international solidarity to create a base-free and peaceful Asia and world.

On the evening of December 8, about 1,200 people participated in the opening plenary of the Japan Peace Conference. Local peace activists welcomed the participants by performing the "referendum song," a song they wrote during the campaign in March to call on residents to take part in the referendum.

Participants reported on their struggles against the strengthening of U.S. bases located in their hometowns. Yamazaki Masanori from Yokosuka, whose wife was killed by a crew member of the U.S. aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk last January, said that he has decided to file a lawsuit seeking the responsibility of the U.S. forces and the Japanese government and called on participants to support him in his court struggle.

Delivering the keynote speech, Japan Peace Committee Secretary General Chisaka Jun stressed the increasing cooperation among struggles against the U.S. military realignment and in defense of the Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education, and encouraged the participants to further develop the peace movement in order to block the move to turn Japan into a war-fighting nation.
- Akahata, December 8, 9, and 10, 2006