Prefectural citizens’ rally gathers 3500 people protesting military base reinforcement
On May 13 at Ginowan Seaside Park's Outdoor Theater, all participants chant "Ganbaro" ("Let's do our best") three times following rally declarations that oppose the expansion of U.S. bases driven by the U.S. and Japanese governments.
May 14, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo
In the afternoon on May 13 at Ginowan Seaside Park’s Outdoor Theater, the 5/15 Peace March Action Committee and the Okinawa Peace Movement Center held a prefectural citizens’ rally to protect peace and life.
In commemoration of 46 years since Okinawa’s return to Japan following its postwar occupation by the U.S. military, those gathered called for a peaceful Okinawa devoid of U.S. bases to be made a reality.
The organizers estimated that from May 11 through 13, 3500 people attended the prefectural rally following their participation in the Peace March.
Those gathered fervently called for alleviation of Okinawa’s overlarge share of the base burden.
Chairman of the 5/15 Peace March Action Committee and the Okinawa Peace Movement Center Hiroji Yamashiro spoke at a greeting from the organizers.
He said, “Matters like land reclamation in Henoko and reinforcement of bases in the Sakishima Islands are teeming with many problems.
We have clasped hands with our colleagues nationwide and throughout Okinawa, and renewed our determination to proceed with vigor.”
House of Representatives member Kantoku Teruya called for solidarity and participation from outside Okinawa.
He said, “I hope that over these three days of the march that our true sentiments cross prefectural boundaries and are felt throughout Japan, and cross national boundaries to produce a huge movement of solidarity throughout the world.” Teruya went on to express that Okinawans are not seeking pity or charity, rather, they want to be earnestly supported as equals.
An announcement at the rally touched on the denuclearization agreement made at the inter-Korea summit, stating, “As East Asia speeds toward peace and security, the time is coming to make drastic revisions to the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty and the Status of Forces Agreement.”
In addition it was declared that, “We must stand firm against the reckless charge of our self-righteous government, which would renounce war and specify a self-defense force in Article 9, then in a return to the pre-war period would push toward war. We oppose the reinforcement and expansion of U.S. military bases that the U.S. and Japanese governments are forcing through.”
On the morning of May 13, the final day of the 5/15 Peace March, participants separated into two groups and walked around Futenma Air Station along a central north region “base” course and a southern “old battlefield” course, converging at the meeting place of the prefectual rally.
According to organizers, about 5400 people in total participated in the Peace March along the “base” and “old battlefield” courses over the three days from May 11 through 13.
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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