Thousands of Japanese protest US airbase in Okinawa
Thousands of Japanese people have held protests in Okinawa in southern Japan against a controversial US airbase on the island.
The protests were held on Sunday as the argument over the relocation of the Futenma airbase has dragged on for nearly two decades, AFP reported.
"The government says we are to blame that the issue has stalled for 19 years and they tell us to find an alternative place (for the base relocation). That's outrageous," shouted the anti-US base mayor of Nago, Susumu Inamine.
"The government is thrusting their responsibility on us," Inamine said at a 15,000-seat baseball stadium.
Over half of the 47,000 US service personnel stationed in Japan as part of a defense alliance reside in Okinawa. Islanders say the number is too high.
In 1996, the United States announced plans to move the base in a bid to reduce tensions with the host community following gang-rape of a schoolgirl by US servicemen.
However, local officials opposed the plan, instead asked for the relocation of the base to somewhere off the island. The issue also worsened the relationship between Tokyo and Okinawa, which was once an independent kingdom but was annexed by Japan in the 19th century.
The deadlock has exacerbated recently after preparatory construction work on the coast began while there was vehement opposition from the local government in Okinawa.
In April, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the re-location plan was "the only solution," while anti-base Okinawa governor Takeshi Onaga reacted negatively, arguing that three recent popular votes in Okinawa proved the majority oppose the move.
"The current government is pushing the plan. Is it really a democratic country?" said 86-year-old Kiku Nakayama, who worked as a nurse for soldiers towards the end of World War II.
"We have to remove the risks of exposing Okinawa to war again," she said.
AT/HRJ
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