Thousands of Japanese protest new US base plan
Thousands of Japanese demonstrators have staged a massive rally, protesting the planned construction of a new US airbase on the southern island of Okinawa.
Organizers of the demonstration said about 15,000 people formed a human chain around the parliament building in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, on Sunday.
They held placards and banners with messages such as “No to Henoko", and chanted slogans against the establishment of a controversial US airbase in the southern Japanese island.
Henoko is a small coastal area on Okinawa Island where Washington plans to relocate the existing Futenma military facility.
The massive demonstrations on Sunday aimed to ramp up pressure on the Japanese government to halt building work for the military base. The protesters also strongly criticized the Tokyo government that is apparently ignoring local residents.
"We must stop this construction," media outlets quoted one of the protesters at the rally as saying, adding, "The government is trying to force the plan no matter how strongly Okinawa says 'no' to it."
The angry demonstrators also expressed opposition to Washington's planned deployment of CV-22 Osprey aircraft at US Yokota Air Base in Tokyo.
The United States announced plans to move the Futenma airbase in 1996, hoping to ease tensions with the host community.
The decision to move Futenma to the less-populated coastal area of Henoko in Nago City was also raised during Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s recent week-long visit to Washington where he and US President Barack Obama agreed to initiate the construction of a new base in Okinawa.
But local residents have long opposed the presence of US troops in the island.
The deep-rooted resentment against the US in Okinawa boiled over in 1995 when US servicemen brutally raped an elementary schoolgirl, triggering mass rallies and violence across Japan.
US troops have been involved in other cases of violent conduct in the area, making people more and more sensitive about Abe’s pro-Washington policies.
Abe says he intends to increase the country's defense ties with the US in a bid to keep China in check. However, critics say the policy directly violates Japan’s pacifist constitution and would lead to a new confrontation with China in the future.
JR/KA/SS
Philippines, US kick off drills in disputed waters of South China Sea
US House rubberstamps $95 billion ‘aid’ for Israel, Ukraine, Chinese Taipei
Yemenis, Jordanians reiterate support for Palestinians in Gaza
Tehran economic conference: Raeisi hails Iran-Africa expansion of ties
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Severe heat wave hits India as phase 2 of polling begins
What to expect after President Raeisi's visit to Pakistan
China describes Iran as ‘strategic partner' in West Asia
April 25: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
Hezbollah hits Israeli military sites near border with rockets, drones
Rwandans say UK deportation 'another brutal manifestation of neo-colonialism'
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
