18 organizations light candles in Osaka to support Governor’s revocation of landfill permit

18 organizations light candles in Osaka to support Governor’s revocation of landfill permit

People lighting candles to show their support for Governor Onaga’s revocation of the land reclamation permit and their opposition to the Henoko land reclamation on the night of October 20, in front JR Osaka Station, Osaka.


October 21, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the night of October 20, “Stop! Henoko New Base Construction! Osaka Action,” a group made up of 18 citizens’ organizations working on the Okinawa base issue in Japan’s Kansai region, held a candlelight vigil in front of JR Osaka Station to show their support for Governor Takeshi Onaga and his decision to revoke authorization to reclaim land around Henoko. According to the organizers, around 70 participants attended the vigil and encouraged passersby to think about the base issues not just on Okinawa but on mainland Japan as well.

The group was formed on August 8, 2014, and since then has expanded and organized rallies and other events to oppose the Henoko base construction. It was the second time this year the group has held a candlelight vigil, and their first time since Governor Onaga announced his decision to revoke the land reclamation permit. Participant Keiko Murakami of Hyogo prefecture, age 65, said, “[The issues surrounding US bases] are not just Okinawa’s problem. I want to act in solidarity [with people in Okinawa].”

(Translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)

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