The Japanese will decide the fate of the American base in Okinawa

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In the southernmost prefecture of Japan - Okinawa - a referendum began to decide the fate of the American base of Futamm. Using this vote, Okinawa Governor Danny Tamaki plans to demonstrate to the country's leadership that local residents are unhappy with Tokyo’s plans to leave the US Air Force base in the prefecture.



According to the plan of the central authorities, the air base should be moved from Ginovan to Hanoko Bay, which is located in the north of Okinawa. Talk about this has been going on since 1996.

In the densely populated city of Ginovan, flights of American aircraft often led to negative incidents, creating a threat to the safety of citizens. Washington and Tokyo agreed to move the American base from this city to the north of Okinawa, to Hanoko. In part, it could be located on the bulk islands. However, local Okinawa authorities opposed this decision.

After years of consultations in 2013, the consent of local authorities was obtained, but already in 2015, the previous governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, opposed such a plan. He demanded that the US base be moved outside the prefecture that he headed.

In this regard, litigation began. Onaga lost trial after trial, but continued to insist that there should be no base in the prefecture. During this struggle, the governor died, but the story did not end there. In September last year, a new governor was elected - Danny Tamaki. He also advocated that the American base be withdrawn from Okinawa. As part of this struggle, a referendum is taking place.

In addition to two points - on the agreement or disagreement with Tokyo’s plans for the US base - there is a third paragraph in the bulletins: “I do not agree with either option”. If the turnout exceeds 25 percent, the governor of the prefecture will be required to take into account the results of the referendum in its future policy.

Since this is not a national referendum, but a vote taking place in only one region, its results do not oblige the central authorities of the country to anything.

Whatever the outcome of the plebiscite, local authorities will inform the head of the Japanese government, Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump, about them.
  • nabludatel.net
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  1. +1
    24 February 2019 20: 27
    In the southernmost prefecture of Japan - Okinawa - a referendum began to decide the fate of the American base of Futamm.

    Why is this clowning ??? Looks like the Japanese are bored. Japan is occupied by America and they are the masters there. Let the Japanese hold at least 100 referenda, the Americans will not go anywhere, though they will laugh well at the Japanese.