Japan Press Weekly
[Advanced search]
 
 
HOME
Past issues
Special issues
Books
Fact Box
Feature Articles
Mail to editor
Link
Mail magazine
 
   
 
HOME  > Past issues  > 2009 December 2 - 8  > Shii and mayor agree on initiating a debate on Japan-U.S. Security Treaty
> List of Past issues
Bookmark and Share
2009 December 2 - 8 [OKINAWA]

Shii and mayor agree on initiating a debate on Japan-U.S. Security Treaty

December 5, 2009
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on December 4 visited Mayor Miyagi Tokujitsu of Kadena Town in Okinawa, where the U.S. Kadena Air Force Base occupies 83 percent of the town's land area.

The mayor said that 13 years after his previous meeting with Shii, Kadena residents’ suffering associated with the Kadena base have been increasing due to increased noise pollution, noxious smells, and accidents.

The Kadena Town Assembly has held 44 extraordinary meetings to express its protest to the U.S. Forces in regard to the occurrence of accidents, he added.

U.S. fighter jets frequently fly in from mainland Japan and from bases abroad because of the vast air space in Okinawa reserved for the U.S. forces’ exclusive use for training, the mayor stressed.

Shii said, “The functions of the Kadena base have increased to the extent that even a U.S. Department of Defense official admitted that the situation was ‘abnormal'. The JCP is determined to make efforts to get the designated air space eliminated and the air base reduced and withdrawn.”

Referring to the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty which will mark its 50th anniversary next year, Miyagi requested that Shii help to increase debates over whether the treaty is necessary or not.

Shii said, “I am in complete agreement with you.”

As regards the Foreign Minister’s proposal to move the functions of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station to the Kadena Air Force Base, Shii stated that the JCP will fight in support of Kadena town’s rejection of the proposal as expressed in the November 7 rally in the town.

“This is very encouraging to us all,” said the mayor.
- Akahata, December 5, 2009
> List of Past issues
 
  Copyright (c) Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. All right reserved