February 2001 World Headlines

Friday, February 23, 2001 - Web posted at 8:27:51 AM GMT

Japanese take to the streets to demand US troops out
GEORGE NISHIYAMA

TOKYO - Japanese activists marched through central Tokyo yesterday to demand the withdrawal of US Marines after a series of alleged crimes by US forces and the sinking of a training trawler by a US nuclear submarine.

About 20 people marched on the US embassy and chanted: "We will not tolerate crimes by US Marines.

We don't need submarines built for war."

"Holding placards that read: "Armies never bring peace.

Marines are trained to kill," they walked through the Nagatacho district of Tokyo, home to the parliament and the official residence of the prime minister.

The protesters, members of a Christian peace organisation and an anti-U.S. base group, handed an embassy official a letter for US President George W.

Bush, demanding he take steps to pull out Marines based on the southern island of Okinawa.

Earlier, Okinawa Governor Keiichi Inamine said for the first time he wanted to reduce the number of US forces stationed there amid local anger over a string of offences by Marines.

US-Japan ties are already strained by Japanese anger after a US nuclear submarine surfaced, smashed into and sank a Japanese training trawler off Hawaii on February 9, leaving nine people missing and presumed dead.

The activists demanded Bush salvage the sunken trawler, the Ehime Maru, resting at a depth of 600 metres on the ocean floor off the coast of Hawaii, and urged criminal charges against the submarine officers."

"All of these incidents occur within the framework of a military.

The lesson is that militaries do not provide security," said 38-year-old activist Mikako Nishihara.

The anti-US sentiment is particularly strong in Okinawa, home to the bulk of the US military presence in Japan.

This month the chief of the US forces on the island, Lieutenant General Earl Hailston, triggered outrage when he referred to his hosts as "nuts and wimps" in an internal e-mail leaked to the media.

And a US Marine based on Okinawa was charged last week for arson after several local restaurants were set on fire."

"These incidents are happening on a daily basis.

Women and children in particular cannot live safely.

We want the Marines to leave Okinawa," said Nishihara.

- Nampa-Reuters