Hirano seeks local understanding over Futemma relocation

KAGOSHIMA, Japan, May 15 Kyodo -
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano on Saturday asked business people from
Tokunoshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, to accept some functions and drills
from the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa ''within the limits
of what local people will allow.''
During the meeting in the city of Kagoshima, which followed Hirano's talks with
five local assembly members from Tokunoshima Island on Wednesday, he said the
government will expand the capacity of Tokunoshima airport if the island
accepts the request, according to attendees.
He also said the government plans to transfer the drills not only to
Tokunoshima but also to Self-Defense Forces bases across the country.
Hirano said during the meeting that the scale of the Futemma relocation to the
island ''must be within the limits of what local people will allow. The
government will make utmost efforts not to impose burdens (on the people of
Tokunoshima).''
The delegations from Tukunoshima, including those from the construction and
tourism sectors, told Hirano that they want the government to provide them with
an idea of how it views the future of the island, referring to medium- and
long-term support measures if the request is accepted.
One of the attendees said, ''I don't agree with (the government plan), but I
want to hear what it has to say.'' Hirano responded, ''I apologize for the
trouble that the government has caused. We earnestly hope to transfer (the
Futemma functions and drills) to Tokunoshima and we expect people in the
private sector to support us.''
Hirano is also scheduled to meet with another group of islanders, who are
believed to be supportive of the government's request.
Despite efforts to break the deadlock over the Futemma relocation issue, people
in Tokunoshima Island are adamantly opposed to the government idea, with the
island's three mayors rejecting it during their meeting with Prime Minister
Yukio Hatoyama on May 7.
On the Saturday's meeting, Akira Okubo, mayor of Isen on Tokunoshima Island,
said the attendees were not representative of the overall opinion of the
islanders.
''We have already expressed our will to the government,'' he said, referring to
the submission of 26,000 signatures against the government plan to Hatoyama on
May 7.
Hatoyama, Hirano and other ministers concerned confirmed Friday that they will
continue to negotiate with local governments and the United States beyond the
prime minister's self-imposed deadline of May 31 for resolving the matter.
==Kyodo