thedrifter
10-31-05, 06:51 AM
Okinawa Governor Opposes U.S. Base Plan
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 53 minutes ago
Okinawa's governor told Japan's central government on Monday that a plan to build a U.S. heliport on the southern island as part of a realignment of the American military presence there was unacceptable.
The heliport plan was part of a deal struck over the weekend to close the unpopular Futenma Marine Corps Air Station on Okinawa and move its functions to another base on the island.
The plan "completely disagrees with the prefecture's ideas. It is absolutely not acceptable to Okinawa," Gov. Keiichi Inamine told reporters after meeting with Defense Facilities Administration Agency chief Iwao Kitahara.
Japan and the United States reached a broad agreement on strengthening military cooperation, reducing the number of U.S. Marines in Okinawa and giving Tokyo greater responsibility for security in the Pacific.
Under the accord, 7,000 U.S. Marines will leave strategically located Okinawa for the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, a move that is expected to take six years. Japan will work with the U.S. government to examine how it can help facilitate the move to Guam.
There are currently 14,460 Marines in Japan, the largest Marine contingent based overseas. Nearly all are located on Okinawa, where residents have expressed a strong desire for a rapid reduction in U.S. forces.
Inamine welcomed the cut in troop numbers, but balked at the plan to relocate the Futenma base in the crowded southern part of Okinawa to Camp Schwab in the north. He said many Okinawans want Futenma to be removed altogether because of safety and environmental concerns. Many Okinawans oppose any new U.S. military construction on the island.
"We do not believe the latest relocation plan can effectively resolve the issue," Inamine said.
An official from the Defense Facilities Administration Agency quoted Kitahara as saying earlier Monday that "very difficult opinions and suggestions" had been received.
"We'll continue our effort to show sincerity and gain understanding," the official said on condition of anonymity in accordance with agency rules.
The central government — which is sensitive to the concerns of Okinawans following a series of high-profile accidents and crimes linked to U.S. forces based on the island — has the final say on the proposed move.
"We have to consider how we can achieve national security for all of Japan while paying consideration to the local residents' difficulties," newly appointed defense chief Fukushiro Nukaga told reporters.
Okinawa, Japan's southernmost island state about 1,000 miles southwest of Tokyo, shoulders nearly half of about 50,000 U.S. servicemen in Japan.
On Sunday, thousands of activists staged a rally on Okinawa to protest crimes, noise and pollution long associated with the Marine bases, and to demand that more U.S. troops be removed than the 7,000 Marines envisioned in the plan.
Ellie
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 53 minutes ago
Okinawa's governor told Japan's central government on Monday that a plan to build a U.S. heliport on the southern island as part of a realignment of the American military presence there was unacceptable.
The heliport plan was part of a deal struck over the weekend to close the unpopular Futenma Marine Corps Air Station on Okinawa and move its functions to another base on the island.
The plan "completely disagrees with the prefecture's ideas. It is absolutely not acceptable to Okinawa," Gov. Keiichi Inamine told reporters after meeting with Defense Facilities Administration Agency chief Iwao Kitahara.
Japan and the United States reached a broad agreement on strengthening military cooperation, reducing the number of U.S. Marines in Okinawa and giving Tokyo greater responsibility for security in the Pacific.
Under the accord, 7,000 U.S. Marines will leave strategically located Okinawa for the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, a move that is expected to take six years. Japan will work with the U.S. government to examine how it can help facilitate the move to Guam.
There are currently 14,460 Marines in Japan, the largest Marine contingent based overseas. Nearly all are located on Okinawa, where residents have expressed a strong desire for a rapid reduction in U.S. forces.
Inamine welcomed the cut in troop numbers, but balked at the plan to relocate the Futenma base in the crowded southern part of Okinawa to Camp Schwab in the north. He said many Okinawans want Futenma to be removed altogether because of safety and environmental concerns. Many Okinawans oppose any new U.S. military construction on the island.
"We do not believe the latest relocation plan can effectively resolve the issue," Inamine said.
An official from the Defense Facilities Administration Agency quoted Kitahara as saying earlier Monday that "very difficult opinions and suggestions" had been received.
"We'll continue our effort to show sincerity and gain understanding," the official said on condition of anonymity in accordance with agency rules.
The central government — which is sensitive to the concerns of Okinawans following a series of high-profile accidents and crimes linked to U.S. forces based on the island — has the final say on the proposed move.
"We have to consider how we can achieve national security for all of Japan while paying consideration to the local residents' difficulties," newly appointed defense chief Fukushiro Nukaga told reporters.
Okinawa, Japan's southernmost island state about 1,000 miles southwest of Tokyo, shoulders nearly half of about 50,000 U.S. servicemen in Japan.
On Sunday, thousands of activists staged a rally on Okinawa to protest crimes, noise and pollution long associated with the Marine bases, and to demand that more U.S. troops be removed than the 7,000 Marines envisioned in the plan.
Ellie