GINOWAN, Okinawa — At a peace march held near Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on May 15, participants expressed their opposition to the station’s continued presence or relocation within the prefecture, calling for relocation money to be allocated to support of areas devastated by the March 11 disasters.

“Seventy-five percent of U.S. bases in Japan are clustered in Okinawa, and the anger of the Okinawa people will not fade (if this situation continues). We will press for the closing of Futenma,” said Shiko Sakiyama, chairman of the event’s organizing committee, during the opening ceremony.

While marching, the participants chanted, “No more Futenma” and “We oppose relocation within Okinawa.”

The march is held every year on May 15, the anniversary of Okinawa’s return to Japan from U.S. occupation. This year was the 39^th anniversary.

According to the march’s organizers, around 3,300 people from within and outside the prefecture participated. Dividing into two groups, they walked a total of around 15 kilometers around the controversial air station.

At the end of the march, an event “to protect the peace and life of Okinawan residents” was held in which participants called for the hundreds of billions of yen it is said would be needed to relocate Futenma to be used to help areas hit hard by the March 11 disasters instead.

Normally the yearly march is conducted for three days, but this year it was shortened to one day because participating groups are also engaged in relief efforts for the disaster-hit areas.

Mainichi , May 16, 2011