Thousands Protest New Air Base on Pacific Island of Okinawa

Edited by Juan Leandro
2013-12-30 14:03:30

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Tokyo, December 30 (RHC)-- After years of debate, the U.S. and Japan have agreed to move a controversial military base from a densely populated urban location to another area of Okinawa.

The U.S. Marines' Futenma Air Station will be moved to a coastal area in Nago -- despite huge opposition to any new base among Okinawans, fed up with playing host to an out-sized share of the U.S. military presence in Japan, and who want it moved off the island altogether.

Following the announcement, thousands of protesters surrounded local government offices, holding signs reading: "Never bend." According to reports from Okinawa, more than 1,000 protesters stormed the lobby of the building and staged a sit-in.

Organizers of the protest said that local residents are so upset that they will resort to the use of force, such as blocking area roads, to prevent construction of the new site for the U.S. military base.



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