Stop continuing 58 projects for a new base!: Kasai

Japan Press Weekly

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

Stop continuing 58 projects for a new base!: Kasai

Japanese Communist Party representative Kasai Akira on February 26 at a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting criticized the government for continuing 58 public works projects related to the construction plan for a new U.S. military base at the Henoko district of Nago City in Okinawa.

Despite having promised Okinawans that the government will reconsider the plan to construct a new U.S. base at the Henoko district as replacement for the U.S. Marines Corp Futenma Air Station currently located in Ginowan City in Okinawa, it has gone ahead with the ongoing 58 public works projects as decided by the previous government, at cost of about 8.3 billion yen.

Kasai pointed out that from FY2006 to FY2009, 152 public works projects related to a new U.S. base had been ordered in total, amounting to about 15.5 billion yen, and that 58 works projects are still ongoing, including the construction of military barracks, an administration building, and repair facilities.

Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi in reply said, “It was the previous government that signed these orders, and we haven’t signed any public works contracts in relation to the new base construction.” Yet he added, “Wherever the new base will be located, we must avoid disrupting the plan,” indicating that the Henoko district is still an option.

Kasai stated, “Don’t you think that it is unreasonable to carry on these public works projects on the grounds that they were approved by the previous government? You should immediately stop the ongoing construction works,” and again demanded that the government withdraw the plan to construct a new base in the Henoko district.

- Akahata, February 27, 2010