July 31, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
An association representing people involved in the Okinawan fishing industry who oppose construction of a new U.S. base in Henoko, Nago, held a regular general meeting in Uruma City on July 30. The association unanimously passed a special resolution seeking the withdrawal of the U.S.Marine Corps from Okinawa and the halting of construction of the new base in Henoko and helipads in Takae, Higashi Village.
In the wake of the rape and murder of a woman by a U.S. military contractor, the association added to the resolution the call to withdraw U.S.Marine Corps from Okinawa. Co-director of the association Zinsei Nishime said, “This is the first time the association has called for the withdrawal of U.S.Marine Corps from Okinawa. Unless this happens, there will be no way to guarantee that there won’t be a recurrence of tragic crimes and accidents involving the U.S military.”
The association was set up in May 2015. At the meeting, the association members reported several projects involving fixed-point observation of coral reef for the fiscal year of 2015. They confirmed that they would continue opposing new base construction in Henoko.
Another co-director of the association Tadashi Oshiro said, “We can’t avoid the issues of Henoko and Takae. We will do our best to make the sea in Okinawa peaceful and prosperous.”
The East Asian Community Institute, for which former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is president, will display the resolution in English at a photo exhibition about issues related to the Henoko relocation, which will be held in Berkeley, California on August 11.
(English translation T&CT)
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