Former Prime Minister Hatoyama encourages sit-in protesters in front of Camp Schwab

Former Prime Minister Hatoyama encourages sit-in protesters in front of Camp Schwab

Former prime minister Yukio Hatoyama (fifth from right) enjoys a line dance with citizens on a visit to support the next stage of their mission to block the construction of the new U.S. base, on the morning of May 7 in front of Camp Shwab at Henoko, Nago.


May 7, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the morning of May 7, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama visited the sit-in-protest site in front of the gate of Camp Schwab at Henoko in Nago. He encouraged citizens staging a protest against the construction of a new U.S. base, which is part of plans to relocate the U.S. Marine Corp Air Station Futenma in Ginowan.

About 150 protesters raised their fists, shouting, “remove concrete blocks at once.” Concrete blocks used for initial surveying for landfill for the base are being removed from Oura Bay as part of a settlement in a lawsuit over the Henoko relocation.

Hatoyama said, referring to the work being carried out to remove the floats, “Your everyday activities are at last bearing fruit. On this occasion when the construction work is suspended, I want you to have a rest to prepare for the next struggle.”

“I am striving to block the construction of the base in Henoko with you,” he added.
A citizen handed the former prime minister a blue T-shirt bearing the message, “the only way to win – never give up.”

Hatoyama wore the T-shirt while speaking to the sit-in protesters.

In the afternoon, he visited Takae district in Higashi to encourage citizens staging a protest against the construction of Helipads by the U.S. military.

(English translation by T&CT)

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