THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 10, 1996 TAG: 9606100063
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: IWAKUNI, JAPAN LENGTH: 27 lines
Nearly 4,000 people on Sunday protested a proposal to transfer U.S. warplanes to a Marine base in this western Japan city from an Okinawan base that is slated for closure.
The proposed transfer is part of an effort to consolidate bases on the southern island of Okinawa, where anti-U.S. military sentiment has intensified since three U.S. servicemen were convicted of raping an Okinawan girl in September.
The United States has agreed to close the Futenma Marine Corps air base and return the 1,190-acre site to Okinawa.
Currently, 75 percent of all U.S. base land in Japan is in Okinawa, a major battleground in World War II. The United States has said its current troop strength in Japan, about 47,000, is necessary to maintain its security role in East Asia.
According to a recent survey of 587 Iwakuni residents, 60 percent opposed moving any base functions to their city. Another 16 percent said they would accept such a transfer, out of consideration for Okinawans.
No margin of error was provided for the survey. by CNB