New mayor of Ginowan City demands the U.S. military base be withdrawn

Newly elected anti-U.S. base mayor of Ginowan City in Okinawa has resolved to demand that the Japanese and the U.S. governments vacate the U.S. Marines Futenma Air Base to the city within five years.

New Mayor Iha Yoichi said this in his policy speech to the first city assembly meeting on May 14.

He said that it would be beyond Ginowan citizens' patience to wait until the base is relocated and built anew in Nago City because it would take at least 16 years for the completion of the new base construction.

The mayor called for the U.S. Futenma base not to be relocated to other cities in Okinawa but withdraw from the prefecture.

On the noise pollution caused by U.S. F18 fighters and helicopters, mayor Iha said, "It is beyond the limits of toleration. As a mayor responsible for protecting the citizens' health and livelihoods, I can no longer leave the matter as it is."

The mayor added that the city would prepare to draw up a plan on a use of the land after the Futenma Air Base is removed in FY 2005. (end)