News report on the No new base at Henoko - Island Costume Conference held in Naha on July 27, was attended by 2,000 Okinawans. Supporters & attendees included representatives of all 41 Okinawan municipalities, business leaders, academics, students, & retired elders. The theme of the conference: united Okinawan opposition to the attempt to transform Okinawa into a prefecture dominated by V-22 Osprey training & a mega-base at Henoko. Attendees criticized the current Okinawa governors fixation on economic subsidies, stating that peace, human rights, & human dignity are more important. They criticized the use of militarized force to impose a new base at Henoko: This is trampling on the dignity and will of the Okinawan people, a denial of the basic aspects of democracy and social justice. We reject a future of Okinawa dominated by a new mega-base. We want to provide hope to our children & have the right & responsibility to decide the future of Okinawa. We want to build a friendly society, for everyone. [Today 100 people from civic groups, business circles, & volunteer groups, with the leaders of the Island Conference held recently in Naha arrive at the Henoko sit-in in front of the base. All together, around 300 people raised their voices together, chanting Dont allow reckless construction, & Residents are Angry. Hiroji Yamashiro, chair of Okinawa Heiwa Undo (Center Okinawa Peace Movement Center) and Ms. Suzuyo Takazato, joint representative of the conference, commented on the the level of anger throughout Okinawa; the Japanese governments show & use of excessive force. They vow to keep fighting, & mobilizing the 70+% of Okinawans who are opposed to construction of an airbase & military port at the Sea of Henoko.] https://youtube/watch?v=cu2c06EPZpc
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 23:05:57 +0000
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