Nago Mayor delivers lecture in Washington, D.C. criticizing Japanese government

Nago Mayor delivers lecture in Washington, D.C. criticizing Japanese government


February 9, 2012 Taichi Hirayasu of Ryukyu Shimpo reports from Washington D.C.

Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine, who visited the United States to appeal to U.S. lawmakers to cancel the plan to relocate the Futenma Air Station to the coastal area of Henoko in Nago, delivered a lecture at East West Center in Washington, D.C. on February 7. Inamine criticized the central government, saying, “The Japanese government ignores the will of the Okinawan people and tries to force through the relocation of Futenma Air Station within the prefecture.” Inamine met aides to congressmen and women and members of think tanks.

About 50 media representatives and researchers attended the lecture. Inamine stated, “The Futenma relocation issue is a serious issue that the Okinawan people see as both a political and social problem.” Inamine said, “I am not saying that all the U.S. military bases in Okinawa should be immediately removed, but the Okinawan people can no longer be expected to bear the burden of hosting any new military bases. I do not want the Japanese and the U.S. governments to destroy the precious natural environment and beautiful sea that hosts the dugong and coral reefs.”

After the lecture, Inamine met Congressman Jim McDermott, an aide to Congresswoman Diana Degette and Sheila Smith, Senior Fellow of Council on Foreign Relations, Michael Green, Senior Adviser and Japan Chair of Center For Strategic and International Studies.

(English translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey)

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