One Million Signatures in Solitary With The Okinawan People

Non-government organizations,(NGO's) in Japan, and the Okinawa Peace & Environment Network ( O.P.E.N )
based on the island, request you name on this petition in support of the Okinawan people's desire for the removal of US bases. As they are received we will forward the to President Clinton, Prime Minister Hashimoto and other appropriate governmental representatives of the US and Japan.

WHEREAS, The rape of a 12 year-old schoolgirl, on September 4, 1995 by three US Marines based on Okinawa triggered the islander's pent-up anger over thousands of crimes committed by US military personnel over the past decade.

WHEREAS, 90% of Okinawan's want a reduction in US military bases( September 8, 1996 referendum).

WHEREAS, Okinawa was forcibly annexed by Japan in 1879 and has, since W.W.II, been hosting a disproportionate share of US military bases in Japan (i.e. 75% of the land which US forces occupy in Japan are on Okinawa, despite the fact that the island represents only 0.6% of Japan's total land mass ) And it is now believed that US bases on Okinawa store Nuclear Weapons, in clear violation of the US/Japan Security Treaty.

WHEREAS, During the ten year war between the US and North Vietnam, 58,000 American troops and 3,000,000 Vietnamese soldiers and civilians died. We the people of Okinawa feel very guilty about the deaths and for supporting in US government. Therefore it is for these reasons that we wish the closure of all US and Japanese military bases on our island.

WHEREAS, the recent Japan Supreme Court ruling forcing Okinawa to submit to the governments forced lease of private land for US bases indicates that Okinawa's property rights are worthless and is another example of Japan's mistreatment of the island.

 WHEREAS, President Clinton and Prime Minister Hashimoto, met in September 1995 and talked about closing Futenma Air Base, but only if another site could be found on one of Japan's five main islands. Since no other was found, the US & Japan are now planning to construct an offshore heliport which will further degrade the island's fragile bay environment.

 THEREFORE, WE THE UNDERSIGNED, REQUEST THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN TO HONOR THE WISHES OF THE OKINAWAN PEOPLE FOR REMOVAL OF US BASES FROM IT'S LAND AND SUPPORT OKINAWA TO BECOME A MODEL OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SELF-SUSTAINING TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMY.

Please Mail Signatures To:

O.P.E.N.
2-8-56 Naha Okinawa, Japan 900
Tel: 81-98-867-5159
Fax: 81-98-869-1443
E-Mail: open@teleplex.net

Every Name Will Mean One More Towards Our Goal Of One Million. THANK YOU