Japan Govt’s plan for US base rejected

JAPAN: Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama announced a plan to relocate a US base in Okinawa, a decision protested by people and local authorities, who urge him to keep his promise of taking the installation out of the island.

Hatoyama travelled for the second time this month to the island to discuss the issue with Okinawa prefecture Governor Hirokazu Nakaima again, something that has kept the Government busy since he took office in September.

“We concluded we should ask the residents to accept the relocation of the base (in Futenma), in an area near the district of Henok, in Nago city”, the Premier said.

Hatoyama went back on his election promise of taking the installation out of the territory in order to relieve the burden the US military presence poses to the local population.

Tokyo and Washington reached an agreement on the issue, expected to be announced on Friday, under which the base will be transferred to an area next to another facility in Nago, sources said.

The understanding was preceded by a visit of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Tokyo.

In Okinawa, Hatoyama only found strong rejection to his proposal, including a demonstration outside the headquarters of the prefectural Government.

Hatoyama announced that during a meeting next Thursday he will ask Governors to accept some of the Futema functions in their respective territories.

Tokyo, Prensa Latina