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Okinawa prefectural assembly opposes live-firing drill at U.S. Camp Hansen

The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly on July 8 adopted a unanimous resolution expressing opposition to the planned use by the U.S. Army Special Forces of the urban warfare training facility.

The range, adjacent to living areas of Kin Town, was recently constructed at U.S. Marine Corps Camp Hansen.

The U.S. forces in Okinawa announced in April that they will temporarily use the training facility until a new one is constructed within Range 16 in Camp Hansen. On June 24, they informed the Japanese government that training, including live-firing, will start. Angered by this announcement, Kin Town residents have kept monitoring the site calling for the cancellation of U.S. forces' urban warfare training.

The resolution warns that the training, if carried out, will hit the Igei district of Kin Town, and that protest actions will increase.

"If the U.S. forces arbitrarily carry out the training by ignoring the residents' concern, it will mean undermining the expressed wish of the prefectural assembly. Such exercises must be discontinued," stated the assembly. - Akahata, July 9, 2005