Members of the Japan Diet, the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly and activist groups from Okinawa have visited Guam on fact-finding missions to observe and ask questions as to what local residents feel about the buildup.
Zenshin Takamine, chairman of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly, will lead a seven-member delegation to Guam on March 28 to hold dialogs with local leaders on matters regarding the relocation of the U.S. Marines from Okinawa.
The delegation will meet with members of the Legislature on March 29.
Japan invitation
Shimoji Mikio, a member of Japan’s House of Representatives, has invited Speaker Judi Won Pat and members of the Guam Legislature to Japan to hold a dialog with high-ranking government officials at the ministerial or vice ministerial level who are involved in the base negotiations.
In a letter to Won Pat, Shimoji stated that the visit is not an official government negotiation, but rather, an opportunity in which the Guam delegation can share with Japanese leaders their problems with respect to the Marines’ relocation and the sentiments of the local people.
Shimoji said after exchanging ideas, he hopes to convey the concerns to the U.S. government in intergovernmental dialogues.
“Guam’s voice regarding what the people of Guam wish for, the concerns that the people of Guam have, and how the people of Guam perceive the proposed relocation, has not been accurately conveyed in Japan,” wrote Shimoji.
Tokyo plans to reach a decision regarding Okinawa base issue by May, and Shimoji hopes that the concerns of the people of Guam are heard before important decisions are finalized.
The Japanese Diet is currently in session to discuss the regular budget for fiscal year 2010.
“This may the final chance for you to visit Japan in order to express your candid opinions to the Japanese government and the people of Japan,” wrote Shimoji.
