Japan Press Weekly

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2013 October 9 - 15 [US FORCES]

1,000 people call for removal of US Yokota base

Calling for the removal of the U.S. Yokota base located in a western suburb of Tokyo, nearly 1,000 citizens on October 12 held a rally in Tokyo’s Fussa City.

The rally was organized by an organizing committee consisting of labor unions and peace organizations.

Maedomari Hiromori, professor at Okinawa International University, delivered a speech entitled, “The U.S. Yokota base, ‘Okinawa’ in Tokyo”. He said that under the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement, the U.S. military in Japan has been enjoying various privileges such as exemption from prosecution by the Japanese police, thus infringing upon Japan’s sovereignty. “Unless Japanese people raise their voice in protest against this situation, our lives and property will be threatened,” he stated.

Tsuruta Kazutada, on behalf of the orgainzing committee in his speech pointed out that the U.S. military used C130 transport aircraft for formation training and parachute landing training at the Yokota base. He also stressed that nearby residents have been suffering from various crimes committed by military and civilian personnel attached to the base.

He said that municipalities around the Yokota base have started to protest against the Japanese and U.S. governments’ move to deploy the accident-prone Osprey aircraft to the base. He added, “Let’s make a broad united front to oppose the deployment plan and work for the removal of the Yokota base, revision of the SOFA, and abolition of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.”

After the rally, the participants marched in demonstration, chanting, “Ospreys, go home”, and “Return the Yokota base site to us”.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Kasai Akira as well as JCP members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Ozaki Ayako and Tokutome Michishige took part in the gathering and the demonstration.