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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Thousands protest in Okinawa over US bases |
| 2007-05-14 |
| Thousands of protesters circled a United States military airbase in Okinawa on Sunday, to urge its forces to leave ahead of the 35th anniversary of the southern island chain's return to Japan. "Maybe Guam, then," said Rep. Murtha... The tiny province, which was ruled by the US from 1945 until 1972, hosts half of more than 40,000 American troops stationed in Japan under a security alliance. Thousands held hands together at Okinawa's Kadena Air Base, which has a 17 kilometre (10 miles)-long perimeter, and hoisted banners that proclaimed:"Give us back quiet nights! US bases, withdraw from Okinawa!" A middle-aged woman said she wanted to send a message of peace to the next generation of Japanese people who have grown up with military bases in Okinawa. The demonstration was organised by local labour unions and peace activists, also to mark the 35th anniversary, on Tuesday, of Okinawa's return to Japan. Japan and the United States in 2005 agreed to a relocation plan that will transfer 8,000 troops from Okinawa to the US territory of Guam and dismantle Futenma air base, which has long been the source of grievances as it is in the crowded urban centre of Ginowan. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 Labor unions and peace activists used to translate as Communist. My guess is they still do Yup, that's Okinawa. My Japanese techs at Yokota told me that the whole island had a big leftist population. The native Okinawans were not happy with being given back to Japan either, they wanted independance. Of course, they'd like us to keep paying them even after we left. |
| Posted by: Steve 2007-05-14 10:47 |
| #2 I remember Reversion and would nuke Okinawa in a heartbeat. I was on a barely flyable B-52 on a typhoon evac out of Guam in 74. The only thing working on the airplane was one radio intermittently and the periscopic sextant. We couldn't get the tip gear up and didn't have enough fuel to make Thailand, so we diverted to Okinawa. Because the Japanese considered us a "nuclear war machine", they would only allow us to land if we were "on fire". A tanker was launched out of Kadena to refuel us and lead us all the way to UTapao. I remember vividly the value they placed on my life, believe me, 33 years later the feeling is mutual. Labor unions and peace activists used to translate as Communist. My guess is they still do. |
| Posted by: RWV 2007-05-14 09:49 |
| #1 So how are the demos going in getting back the Kuriles? Oh that's right, the Yanks are the only ones you can play the guilt game on. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-05-14 00:22 |