Massive Japanese Protest Against a New US Military Base in Okinawa Island

[VALKRYIE]

Thousands protest against US military base in Japan's Okinawa Island

PUBLISHED ON MAY 17, 2015 3:55 PM

Japanese protesters raise placards saying "Do not yield to authority" during a rally to protest against a controversial US airbase in Naha, Okinawa, May 17, 2015. | Photo: AFP

Activists shout slogans during a rally in front of the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on April 17, 2015. Thousands of people rallied in Okinawa in southern Japan on Sunday in protest against a controversial United States airbase on the island, as a two-decade-old bitter row over the relocation of the site drags on.

According to a 2010, survey 71 percent of Okinawans considered that U.S. Marines are not necessary on the Japanese island. Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Okinawa's capital, Naha, Sunday to protest against the building of a controversial U.S. marine airbase in the southern Japanese island.

According to local police at least 35,000 people gathered in the massive rally. Protesters were carrying placards saying "Do not yield to authority" and also chanted slogans aimed to pressure the government of Tokyo to halt building work for the military base that has continued despite the opposition from the local authority in Okinawa and its residents. Local press reported that several protesters were arrested while they were trying to block the traffic, with the rally ending in with a massive meeting at a baseball stadium.

However this is not a new problem. The row over the relocation of the Futenma airbase started in 1996 when Washington announced plans to move the site following a scandal over the gang-rape of a schoolgirl by U.S. soldiers that sparked mass protests across Japan. Since then rape incident, the presence of U.S. forces in the island has become an outrageous fact for residents.

According to a 2010 survey, 71 percent of Okinawans considered that the presence of Marines on the island was not necessary. The island of Okinawa, which makes up only 0.6 percent of the Japan’s land area, is home to more than half – approximately 62 percent – of the 47,000 U.S. service personnel stationed in the country as part of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the Washington and Tokyo.

Thousands Protest Against New US Military Base in Japan | News | teleSUR English

Poor Okinawans still a US colony being used by JP government self interest.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Thousands Protest Against New US Military Base in Japan | News | teleSUR English

Poor Okinawans still a US colony being used by JP government self interest.

You do realize this is so Abe can get support to rollback Article 9.

 

[jhungary]

Or maybe we pack up and leave Asia and play a game called "See how quick Asia felt to China"? Shall we?

 

[Aepsilons]

You do realize this is so Abe can get support to rollback Article 9.

A necessary compromise.

 

[rockstar08]

Or maybe we pack up and leave Asia and play a game called "See how quick Asia felt to China"? Shall we?

why you think Asia will fall to China ???
and if US do so its ok , but if China do so its wrong ? why this ?

 

[WaLeEdK2]

The protest looks so organized. Never seen anything like it.

 

[Armstrong]

Or maybe we pack up and leave Asia and play a game called "See how quick Asia felt to China"? Shall we?

@Nihonjin1051 don't you worry, my brother @jhungary here isn't going anywhere hes just showing some 'tough love' for the Japanese so that you guys start doing some push ups and take more responsibility for yourselves !

Otherwise in his heart he loves all Japanese people !

Why else do you think @jhungary has a Pikachu tattoo on his right arm ?

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

A gangrape in 98... Nobody cares about vietnam or Iraq... Where several cmgirls and even choldren were gangrape and killed...

@Nihonjin1051 don't you worry, my brother @jhungary here isn't going anywhere hes just showing some 'tough love' for the Japanese so that you guys start doing some push ups and take more responsibility for yourselves !

Otherwise in his heart he loves all Japanese people !

Why else do you think @jhungary has a Pikachu tattoo on his right arm ?

I hear you wear ladies clothes on weekends n dance on tunes like "Dobr you wish your girl frnd was hot like me".. N love rainbows and unicorns?

 

[That Guy]

No surprise, Okinawans in general have little love for the US, often accusing them of committing crimes and harassment.

 

[Aepsilons]

I hear you wear ladies clothes on weekends n dance on tunes like "Dobr you wish your girl frnd was hot like me".. N love rainbows and unicorns?

Thousands Protest Against New US Military Base in Japan | News | teleSUR English

Poor Okinawans still a US colony being used by JP government self interest.

Some more pictures,

 

[NiceGuy]

US should annex Okinawa like Russia annex Crime, then, no more protest against US

 

[Transhumanist]

Some more pictures,

Is that a protest or a campaign rally? It's so orderly, no violence, nor out of control rioting, nothing but orderly angst; Japan - the Canada of the Asia Pacific:

So peaceful, even their outrage is calm and collected.

History taught Japan a lesson in peace; it took that lesson to heart and has yet to relinquish it.

Sadako. A story about children and world peace. - about the statue.

 

[Aepsilons]

Is that a protest or a campaign rally? It's so orderly, no violence, nor out of control rioting, nothing but orderly angst; Japan - the Canada of the Asia Pacific:

So peaceful, even their outrage is calm and collected.

History taught Japan a lesson in peace; it took that lesson to heart and has yet to relinquish it.

Sadako. A story about children and world peace. - about the statue.

lol, yes, i know right? lol. We Japanese are so organized in everything we do, even when public opposition rallies are conducted, everything is done with organization in mind.

We don't do "chaos", lol.

 

[luoshan]

US captured Okinawa at the end of world war 2.
It should rightly be an American colony as the price of war..

 

[Aepsilons]

So peaceful, even their outrage is calm and collected.

Indeed. Peacefulness is a unique character of Japan in the present age. However, being too peaceful is not good, a nation must be able to defend its interest within and abroad. I am empathetic with the views of my Okinawan brothers and sisters, and their opposition to the building of the Henoko Base should not be shut by force, but, rather, encourage greater debate within the Diet in honestly and directly addressing the issue of foreign military bases in the country.

With Japan's appropriation of new laws that enable the JSDF to actively promote international peace and stability through deployment of our forces, the United States should also work with Japan in addressing the issue of US military bases and presence in the Japanese Archipelago. Naturally, I think it would be mutually inclusive if the United States were to move its military forces (US Forces Japan) to its assets in the Northern Marianas such as Guam that way it enables Japan to breath properly and reorient itself to address regional and international issues of mutual interest to both Japan and the United States. This is necessary if we are to go ahead with the planned 'active' Japanese-Amerian Global Alliance.

Secondly, it is apparent that the citizens of Okinawa are not against Japanese Self Defense Forces coming in more numbers in the Prefecture , to replace the gradual redeployment of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam. I believe it is natural that US military exit from Japan.

I believe there is much confidence and faith between our Armed Forces that will ultimately lead to this realization.