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Tuesday, 6 February, 2001, 18:38 GMT
Okinawa: Island of resentment
![]() The US has maintained forces on Okinawa since WWII
There have been long-standing tensions on Okinawa between residents and the thousands of US troops based there.
But American bases still occupy 20% of the land, and Okinawans are reminded every day that they share their island with a foreign army. Many Okinawans object to the fact that while the island makes up only 1% of Japan's land, it is expected to play host to the majority of the 47,000 American troops stationed in the country. Rape But that resentment has been heightened in recent years by a number of crimes and alleged incidents involving US soldiers.
Last year a soldier was accused of failing to stop after injuring a Japanese civilian in a traffic accident. And another was charged with sexual assault after allegedly breaking into an apartment and molesting a 14-year-old girl. The top US military official, Lieutenant General Earl Hailston, made an unprecedented apology to the island's authorities after the sexual assault, even before the soldier had been charged.
The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly promptly passed an unprecedented resolution, calling for the US to reduce its military presence on the islands and to do more to prevent similar incidents. It was this move that reportedly led to General Hailston calling the island's officials "nuts" and "wimps" in a private e-mail sent to his staff. He has since apologised. New base Okinawa is still the key to American military power in the region - US marines could be deployed to Korea or Taiwan within a few hours from their Okinawan bases.
It says it needs Henoko because it agreed three years ago to close an existing base in a more populated area following public pressure. Local mayor Tateo Kishimoto gave his reluctant approval to the new base in 1999, but was far from happy about it. "Because of Okinawa's experience in the war, most people are allergic to the American military bases. And I'm one of them. I'm also allergic to the bases," he said. The battle for Okinawa was the bloodiest of the war of the Pacific - 200,000 people were killed. Okinawans believe they are still paying the price more than half a century later.
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