A
AALARD
Guest
5,000 rally in Japan against U.S. military
KAGOSHIMA, Japan, (UPI) -- Local officials say they oppose a Japanese government plan to move some U.S. military operations from Okinawa to an island off Kyushu.
Three mayors from Tokunoshima Island addressed a rally of 5,000 people Saturday in the city of Kagoshima, Kyodo News Service reported. The island is part of Kagoshima Prefecture.
Local officials discussed the plan Friday with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama during a meeting in Tokyo, telling him they will not support it.
Kagoshima Gov Yuichiro Ito told the crowd Saturday he supports Tokunoshima residents and officials.
''It may be a long way, but I will oppose the plan in cooperation with the three mayors,'' he said.
Hatoyama has run into both U.S. and Japanese opposition in efforts to reduce the military footprint on Okinawa. Kyodo said the prime minister was giving up a plan to move some helicopter operations to Tokunoshima because the U.S. military refused to support it, but was still pushing to hold air drills on Tokunoshima.
KAGOSHIMA, Japan, (UPI) -- Local officials say they oppose a Japanese government plan to move some U.S. military operations from Okinawa to an island off Kyushu.
Three mayors from Tokunoshima Island addressed a rally of 5,000 people Saturday in the city of Kagoshima, Kyodo News Service reported. The island is part of Kagoshima Prefecture.
Local officials discussed the plan Friday with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama during a meeting in Tokyo, telling him they will not support it.
Kagoshima Gov Yuichiro Ito told the crowd Saturday he supports Tokunoshima residents and officials.
''It may be a long way, but I will oppose the plan in cooperation with the three mayors,'' he said.
Hatoyama has run into both U.S. and Japanese opposition in efforts to reduce the military footprint on Okinawa. Kyodo said the prime minister was giving up a plan to move some helicopter operations to Tokunoshima because the U.S. military refused to support it, but was still pushing to hold air drills on Tokunoshima.
