Japan Press Weekly

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2008 July 30 - August 19 [US FORCES]

Shii meets with opposition members of Okinawa assembly

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo received a delegation of opposition members from Okinawa (JCP, Social Democratic, Okinawa Social Mass, and independent) in the Diet on July 30.

The Okinawa Prefectural lawmakers asked for JCP cooperation in their opposition to the construction of a new U.S. military base in the sea off the Henoko District of Nago City in Okinawa, and the recently implemented healthcare insurance program for the elderly aged 75 and older.

Shii promised to work together with them to achieve these ends.

Shii said, “The U.S. forces should stop moving their bases within Okinawa and go back to their own country. The new healthcare insurance program for the elderly aged 75 and over is impermissible as it abandons those who have been forced to endure hardships during the Battle of Okinawa and the post-war U.S. occupation.”

The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly, after opposition forces won the majority of seats in the election in June, adopted resolutions opposing the construction of a new U.S. military base and called for the abolition of the new healthcare insurance program. - Akahata, July 31, 2008