Struggle against imposition of strengthening of base functions has just begun: JCP Shii

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on May 30 published the following statement about the Cabinet decision on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan:

The "final report" agreed upon by the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (2 plus 2) is aimed at the "timely and thorough implementation" of the plan to strengthen the functions of military bases throughout Japan. It has drawn fierce criticism from most of the local governments and residents affected by the U.S. military realignment plan. This Cabinet decision is totally unacceptable because it is a high-handed decision in disregard of the opinions of those municipalities and residents that have been opposing the strengthening of the functions of bases.

Concerning the plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps units to Guam, the Cabinet decision proclaims that "Japan will share required costs" and will "expeditiously implement realignment-related measures, including legal and financial." It is outrageous to use Japanese tax money for the strengthening of the base functions in a foreign territory. Japanese and U.S. officials have revealed that Japan will be obliged to spend about three trillion yen for the U.S. military realignment plan, including the relocation costs to Guam. All of these expenditures will force the Japanese people to shoulder more suffering and danger. Not one yen should be paid.

The Cabinet decision will inevitably increase contradictions with the public. The struggle in opposition to the imposition of strengthening of the functions of bases has just begun. Firmly protesting against the Cabinet decision that goes ahead with the U.S. military realignment plan in submission to the United States, the Japanese Communist Party will make utmost efforts to advance the national-scale struggle to block its implementation.
- Akahata May 31, 2006