Iwakuni residents encourage mayor opposing U.S. military realignment

   Residents in Iwakuni City are offended by the state decision to cut subsidies to the Iwakuni city hall construction on the grounds of the city’s rejection of the planned relocation of U.S. aircraft carrier-based fighter units from the U.S. Navy Atsugi Air Facility in Kanagawa Pref. to the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station.

   On August 27, a group of labor unions and democratic organizations that worked for the success of the 2006 referendum visited Mayor Ihara Katsusuke and handed him 400,000 yen as a contribution to the construction collected by the group in support of the mayor’s stance. In the referendum, Iwakuni residents clearly expressed their rejection to the planned relocation.

   The central government decided to grant the city the subsidy before the U.S. realignment plan was drawn up. However, following the referendum and the reelection of Mayor Ihara, the government arbitrarily decided to not pay 3.5 billion yen.

   Ihara, who went to Tokyo early in August to appeal to passers-by to support the city, said, “About eight million yen has been collected across the country so far. The central government must stop its bullying and sincerely consult with us. I want to continue to disseminate information to the public on this question.”

- Akahata, August 5, 29, 2007