Shii urges Hatoyama to unconditionally remove Futenma base

Japan Press Weekly

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

Shii urges Hatoyama to unconditionally remove Futenma base

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on April 23 held talks with Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio in the Diet Building and discussed the issues of nuclear weapons and the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. Shii urged Hatoyama to make a firm decision to demand that the United States unconditionally return the Futenma base.

Shii stated that the JCP is going to send its delegation, headed by himself, to New York to attend the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, and made a positive evaluation of the government working paper made in preparation for the NPT Review Conference. The paper published on March 23 states that the government reaffirms the importance of the promise for “an unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament.” It is also important that the paper stresses “the progress of negotiations for the START” and the need to promote “the early entry into force” of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty.

However, Shii pointed out, a world without nuclear weapons can be achieved by starting an international negotiation with the elimination of nuclear weapons as the primary goal in addition to these partial measures. “It is imperative for the government of the only A-bombed country to demand this of the world,” Shii stated.

Hatoyama in reply said, “For the elimination of nuclear weapons, cooperation of all countries is important. I understand and appreciate your party’s position. I hope you will fully speak out for your policies in New York.”

Shii then informed him that he held talks with U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos on April 21 at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to exchange views on the nuclear weapons issue and the Futenma base issue.

Shii reminded Hatoyama that one of causes of the Futenma base problem lies in the 1995 gang-rape by U.S. Marines of a young girl. Okinawans’ anger is now erupting like magma with their determination to not let such a tragedy be repeated, and the prime minister should recognize that the situation in Okinawa has reached a point of no return, the JCP chair stated.

Shii said to Hatoyama, “The only solution is the unconditional removal of the base, not the transfer of the base to other locations in Japan. This is what you once argued. It is not too late for you to return to this position. You should negotiate with the U.S. government based on your original position. If so, the JCP will support you.”

Hatoyama replied, “I understand your feelings. In view of security, however, I cannot say, ‘Yes, I will.’ Although I want to decrease Okinawans’ burdens, we are facing difficult times.”

Shii reminded Hatoyamathat even under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty system, Japan was able to force the United States to agree to the return of administrative right over Okinawa to Japan in 1969 due to the pressure of popular movements in Okinawa and Japan’s mainland “Now you are at a critical juncture. You are requested to make a firm historic decision for the unconditional removal of the Futenma base,” Shii reiterated.

Hatoyama said, “We cannot draw such a clear design for a solution as the JCP. I hope you will express your viewpoint in the United States.”

- Akahata, April 24, 2010