In a Referendum on the Japanese island of Okinawa, the residents voted on Sunday against the planned relocation of a controversial US Military base. The official result showed that around 72 per cent disagreed with the planned relocation of the US base Futenma from the urban area in a rural Region. 19 percent voted in favour, as the local government announced.
The referendum is not binding, and the Central government has already announced, to the laying hold on to.
The Governor of Okinawa, Denny Tamaki, called the result “extremely important”. On Okinawa displeasure over the existing base for the squadron of the US for a long time, a large marine corps in the midst of a densely populated area. Since 1996, it is discussed, therefore, your installation in a more remote area.
Large parts of the island’s population want but that the US withdraw troops from the island. They point to the fact that they carry a disproportionately large burden, since more than half of the 47’000 US soldiers stationed in Japan on Okinawa.
construction has already begun
In the Referendum voted approximately 434’000 residents against the relocation of the base. The Governor of Okinawa had made a number of votes from 290’000 for the three options a precondition for the recognition of the symbolic referendum. To pressure Tokyo, there was besides the possibility of a consent or refusal is also the possibility of abstention. The participation in the Referendum was 52 percent.
According to a survey conducted by the newspaper “Asahi Shimbun” from the past week, 59 percent of the 1.15 million Voters to reject the construction of a new base in unspoilt nature. 16 percent agree with him. 80 percent of the demand that the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to respect the outcome of the referendum, but this is considered unlikely. The construction works for the new runway for the U.S. Marines, which will protrude partially into the sea, have already begun.
The US base on the island of Okinawa in southern Japan. (Image: Google Maps) (fal/afp)
Created: 24.02.2019, 22:26 PM
