NEWS & LETTERS, July-August 2010
U.S. get out of Okinawa now!
Okinawa--July 23 was the 65th Memorial Day of the End of War in Okinawa. We call July 23 "Memorial Day." All schools and offices in Okinawa are closed, because one fourth of the civilian population of Okinawa, about 200,000 common people, were sacrificed by the War from the end of March till the end of July 1945.
The new Japanese Premier, Naoto Kan, came for this ceremony and said that he will keep the agreement with the U.S. government on the construction of a disputed new U.S. military base in Okinawa. Former Premier Hatoyama promised the Japanese people, especially in Okinawa, that the U.S. base will not be constructed here but outside of Japan, or at least outside of Okinawa.
The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert M. Gates, forced the Hatoyama administration to build the new base in the sea of Henoko in Okinawa as promised by the old Japanese administration of the Liberal Democratic Party. He rejected bringing the U.S. base out of Japan. The other proposed prefecture would not accept the U.S. base. Hatoyama became hopeless and agreed to keep the base in Okinawa, but he resigned on the spot.
Mr. Naoto Kan made a speech at the ceremony and said: "I apologize to all Japanese citizens that many U.S. military bases are still concentrated in Okinawa. But, at the same time, I express my gratitude that the sacrifices of the Okinawa people contribute to the peace and security in the Asia-Pacific area."
Okinawans are very angry. The old agreement to construct a new base at Henoko was made in 1996. Okinawans resisted for 14 years with a sit-down movement on the seaside and in the sea. On April 25 we made a big rally of more than 90,000 people. Mr. Kan's speech neglected the long struggle and the spirit of the Okinawan people. Therefore, what he said in his speech was a heavy humiliation to us.
We can say almost the same words to Mr. Barack Obama. He made a speech in Japan before the U.S. Army where he said, "I respect you, that you are serving for peace in Asia." At that time, I was disappointed in him. Mr. Kan as well as Mr. Obama express their recognition that the U.S. Army contributes to peace in Asia.
We have a completely different recognition from our own experiences that the U.S. Army is always the menace to our human rights and dignity in daily life.
The U.S. Army in Japan is not for peace and friendship but, on the contrary, it destroys our autonomy in the province and the friendship between the Japanese and American people. Therefore, I hope the U.S. people open their eyes to look at this reality and recommend your government withdraw the U.S. Army from Japan and from other Asian countries for the sake of peace and security for the Asia-Pacific people.
--Eiko Asato
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