March 23rd anti-US military protest to go ahead without political support
As you can tell, I’m feeling better now and am back writing on the topic you seemed to be enjoying out there. As I have posted previously, an anti-US military presence protest is scheduled to take place on March 23rd in Chatan town in Okinawa. The protesters asked for local government support of their actions, but until today, they were undecided as to whether they should attend or not. Well, their answer has finally come and it is probably the answer a lot of people expected when they think about it. This, from Japan Update:
Governor, LDP to bypass anti-American protest rally
Date Posted: 2008-03-13
Nearly 60 groups have formed an executive committee to organize what they hope will be a strong demonstration to protest crimes committed by GIfs on Okinawa, but theyfre lacking the political clout they were hoping for.
Okinawafs ruling Liberal Democratic Party has already denounced the rally plans, saying they want no part of it. Workers unions, teacher and other education groups, womenfs groups and the Okinawa Peace Center are firm in their plan for a March 23rd rally at Chatan Townfs Baseball Field. The LDP and Governor Hirokazu Nakaima have spoken out that the incident that started the entire rally demand centered on a young girl who accused a Marine of raping her has since withdrawn the charges, and the Naha Prosecutorfs Office has dismissed the case against the man.
gWe have to think of the girlfs feelings and peace of mind,h says the governor, and not make noise.h Nakaima did say, however, hefll discuss the rally plans with various groups and then reevaluate his decision. His vice governor, Zenki Nakazato, has called for calm over the incidents, pointing to more important strategic interests that must be taken care of for Okinawafs future. He said, essentially, the future of the strategic alliance between Japan and the U.S., and maintaining bases on Okinawa, must be considered heavily.
Protesters have chosen a slogan for their Easter Sunday 2 p.m. demonstration. gLetfs Protest the Scandal and Accidents by Military Members Prefecture Rallyh is the formal name, but executive committee members are reportedly frustrated by the lack of public support for their action. The committee plans to ask all Prefecture Assembly members to attend, but thatfs questionable in light of the LDP decision to skip the rally.
gOur living and human rights have been threatened by these incidents and accidents committed by American soldiers,h says Haruko Odo. gThis violence against women has been happening for more than 60 years.h Odo is chairwoman of the Prefecture Womenfs Association, one of the core groups sponsoring the rally.
The protest rallyfs executive committee is taking the demonstration theme beyond military incidents, agreeing to demand the U.S. and Japanese governments agree to revamp the Status of Forces Agreement, and to cut the number of American bases on Okinawa. The rally idea was first kindled last month to protest the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl by a 38-year-old Marine, Tyrone Hadnott. After Japanese officials dropped the charges and handed the Marine staff sergeant over to the U.S. military, many Okinawans backed off their initial support for a rally.
The concept of reducing American bases has some support, including that of Tetsuei Tamayose, chairman of a childrenfs welfare group. He cautions, however, that any rally must be carefully planned in a way it can be accepted by Okinawans of all political and social views and backgrounds.
The Komeito, the LDPfs political partner, has also chosen not to participate or endorse the rally.
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First of all, the gLetfs Protest the Scandal and Accidents by Military Members Prefecture Rallyh is a great name for a slogan! Not only does it conform with the use of “Let’s” plus any word (e.g. Let’s enjoy English, let’s playing in the park, let’s Thailand!) but the rest of it just rolls off the tongue. I suppose they will call it the LPSAMMPR for short! For people without a sense of humour (I know there are still some out there!), I am aware that the slogan will be in Japanese and has just been translated into English for this article’s sake.
It says the executive committee are frustrated by the lack of public support for the protests, and will seemingly be even more frustrated by the LDP declining to support or be present at the rally. I will admit to frequently criticizing the Japanese politicians in general, although it seems that the Okinawan Governor has made the right decision here. The public seem to have the same mindset too, and it would be interesting to see how many present at these protests come from Okinawa and how many are flying down from mainland Japan for the event. As I have said before, these same “welfare” groups criticized the Okinawan public and especially youth last year for not turning up to an anti-base rally at Kadena Airbase. The groups boldly announced that many thousands would be attending, and then on the day (which had excellent weather, if I remember correctly), there were around 2-300 of them.
But that will not stop the protests going ahead anyway and for the minority to have their voice (which it should be allowed to, in a democracy). The Okinawa International Women’s Day (although assuming International meant non-American) proved a platform on which to stage a protest.
Rallies, protests stir Okinawa International Womenfs Day
Date Posted: 2008-03-11
Slogans called for protests against war and poverty, and for an end to discrimination against women, but the battle phrase at the 98th International Womenfs Day was the call for action against last monthfs alleged rape of a young teenager and demands for an American apology.
Meeting at Urasoe Cityfs Tedako Hall over the weekend, dozens of women condemned the actions of an American Marine accused in the sexual assault case, then released when Japanese prosecutors dropped the charges. gWe must not forgive him,h participants shouted, adding gAmericans should go away from Okinawa.h
Another International Womenfs Day Okinawa Prefecture meeting was equally hostile in the wake of the rape cases. Meeting at the Gender Equality Tiruru Hall in Naha City, women called the young girlfs assault ga scandal and a problem.h They promised gOkinawa women must not forgive the man who did it,h and called for gcompensation and an apology from him.h
The groups, which say they will go ahead with plans for a March 23rd protest demonstration in Chatan Town, are also calling for reform of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.
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Am still not sure what he should be apologizing for. He should apologise for not raping her, seemingly not sexually assaulted her and not doing anything that he could be charged with? Maybe this is the case, as if he had raped her, at least the protests would have had some substance and grounding.
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