Peace organizations urge government to bar U.S. nuclear-powered warships from entering Japanese ports

Japan Press Weekly

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

Peace organizations urge government to bar U.S. nuclear-powered warships from entering Japanese ports

Representatives of anti-nuclear organizations visited the Foreign Ministry on November 26 to request that the government suspend the entry of U.S. nuclear-powered warships into Japanese ports in connection with the recent entry of the U.S. nuclear-powered submarine Providence without notifying of its plan to arrive at U.S. White Beach Naval facility in Okinawa.

They demanded that it is necessary first of all to find the cause of the entry without advance notification and to take steps to prevent such occurrences.

The Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo), and Kanagawa Gensuikyo and the Kanagawa Peace Committee participated in the representations to the Foreign Ministry.

The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington is based at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture.

A Foreign Ministry official in charge of affairs relating to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement rejected the peace organizations’ request on the grounds that “U.S. warships are playing a significant role in maintaining Japan’s peace and stability.”

The representatives also urged the government to lift the ban on local municipalities from making public plans of entry of U.S. nuclear-powered warships into their ports.

While stating that it is difficult to lift the restrictions, the Foreign Ministry official said that the government will take into account local voices and continue to discuss with the U.S. side on the matter. - Akahata, November 28, 2008