Marine parachute jump off Okinawa disrupted by locals

[struggle4progress]

By David Allen, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, February 16, 2007

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — A small group of anti-base protesters in canoes, kayaks and small motorboats attempted to disrupt a parachute exercise by Marines on Tuesday in Oura Bay ...

Okinawa prefectural officials said they requested the exercise be canceled and that all U.S. military parachute training be limited to Ie Shima, an island off Okinawa’s northwest coast. In 1996 the U.S.-Japan Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) issued a report agreeing to move parachute training at the old Yomitan Auxiliary Airfield near Torii Station to Ie Shima, where the Marines have an auxiliary airfield ...

That agreement also called for the closing of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and replacing it with an airport in a less populated area of Okinawa. Many of Tuesday’s protesters are members of a group that has been camped out in the fishing village of Henoko, adjacent to Camp Schwab, since April 2004 ...

Protester Sakae Toyama of the Peace Citizens’ Network said Tuesday’s exercise “completely ignored the wishes of the people of Okinawa.”

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=43588

[roody]

1. Good for them!

[brentspeak]

6. And what if the disruption caused an accident during the exercises?

And a Marine got killed or injured?

The Japanese still haven't acknowledged to themselves the atrocities their nation committed during WWII. That's something people should be pushing for.

[Bonobo]

2. Woo Hoo! Ganbare!!

[Catch22Dem]

3. I lived there for 4 years

It was AWESOME. The people there were the friendliest on Earth. You don't lock your doors, or cars, or anything. Very safe and beautiful place. They harbor no ill will towards Americans. A noteworthy point, that I always try to make with folks is that Okinawans don't consider themselves Japanese per se. They're first and foremost, Okinawans. They protest the Japanese military presence on the island just as frequently as they protest the American military. Their protests are very peaceful too. I'd give anything to go back for a while. Best damn food I ever ate! :D

[Bonobo]

4. Soki Soba anyone?

[Doondoo]

5. This is practically a regular sport in Okinawa