ID :
151564
Mon, 11/29/2010 - 07:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/151564
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Nakaima set to win close Okinawa gubernatorial race
NAHA, Japan, Nov. 28 Kyodo -
Incumbent Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, who has called for the relocation of a
key U.S. Marine base outside of Okinawa while leaving room for negotiations
with the central government, is certain to win Sunday's gubernatorial race,
according to early returns.
The reelection of Nakaima for a second four-year term as governor of Okinawa
Prefecture is expected to give the central government a slim chance of
persuading the local government to accept the planned relocation of the base
within the southwestern prefecture.
Nakaima, 71, is set to beat former Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha, 58, in the closely
contested race that drew the attention of both the Japanese and U.S.
governments. Tatsuro Kinjo, 46, of the Happiness Realization Party, also ran in
the poll, which was effectively a two-man race between Nakaima and Iha.
The incumbent received support from the opposition New Komeito party and Your
Party, while Iha was backed by the People's New Party -- the coalition partner
of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan -- the opposition Social Democratic
Party and the Japanese Communist Party.
As supporters cheered his projected victory at his office, Nakaima said he
believed voters had supported his achievements over the past four years.
On the base issue, Nakaima said he has expressed ''extreme regret'' over a
Japan-U.S. accord reached in May to move the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air
Station, located in a crowded residential area of Ginowan, to a less densely
populated coastal area in Nago in the prefecture.
''The accord was struck without consultations with us and we have not been
provided with convincing explanations,'' Nakaima said.
He said there is ''effectively no place'' in Okinawa to host a replacement
facility, adding, ''We want the whole of Japan to find a solution to the issue
as the U.S. forces in Okinawa are here to provide security not only for our
prefecture but for the entire East Asian region.''
Nakaima also vowed to implement steps to jump-start the local economy to make
Okinawa ''stand on its own feet'' by focusing on boosting the prefecture's
strengths in tourism, culture and entertainment.
Speaking to reporters at his office, Iha acknowledged that he had failed to
secure the support of a wide range of voters as both he and Nakaima called for
the relocation of the Futenma facility outside of Okinawa.
''I hope Mr. Nakaima will stick to his election pledge and realize the transfer
of the base out of the prefecture,'' Iha said.
The final voter turnout was 60.88 percent, 3.66 percentage points lower than
the previous gubernatorial election in 2006. There were 1,068,195 eligible
voters in Okinawa as of Sunday, according to the prefectural election board.
The DPJ did not field a candidate or officially endorse any of the three
candidates, as the party is seeking to relocate the U.S. military base within
Okinawa in line with the latest Japan-U.S. accord reached in May.
In Tokyo, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama told reporters that
the outcome of the gubernatorial election is ''a representation of the will of
the people of Okinawa Prefecture.''
''We will make every effort to reduce the burden on people in Okinawa based on
the Japan-U.S. accord and hope to hold sincere talks to gain the understanding
of Mr. Nakaima and people in the prefecture'' on the transfer of Futenma,
Fukuyama said.
Nakaima, who had previously conditionally accepted the relocation of the base
within Okinawa, indicated he would leave room for negotiations with the central
government on the base issue. He also received the backing of a local chapter
of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party in the gubernatorial election.
Iha adopted a more hard-line approach, seeking to transfer the Futenma base to
the U.S. territory of Guam. He said he would refuse to talk with the central
government as long as the current relocation plan remains in place.
The Okinawa governor can effectively halt the plan to relocate the Futenma base
to the Henoko district in Nago because his approval is required for the land
reclamation necessary to construct a replacement military facility.
==Kyodo
Incumbent Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, who has called for the relocation of a
key U.S. Marine base outside of Okinawa while leaving room for negotiations
with the central government, is certain to win Sunday's gubernatorial race,
according to early returns.
The reelection of Nakaima for a second four-year term as governor of Okinawa
Prefecture is expected to give the central government a slim chance of
persuading the local government to accept the planned relocation of the base
within the southwestern prefecture.
Nakaima, 71, is set to beat former Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha, 58, in the closely
contested race that drew the attention of both the Japanese and U.S.
governments. Tatsuro Kinjo, 46, of the Happiness Realization Party, also ran in
the poll, which was effectively a two-man race between Nakaima and Iha.
The incumbent received support from the opposition New Komeito party and Your
Party, while Iha was backed by the People's New Party -- the coalition partner
of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan -- the opposition Social Democratic
Party and the Japanese Communist Party.
As supporters cheered his projected victory at his office, Nakaima said he
believed voters had supported his achievements over the past four years.
On the base issue, Nakaima said he has expressed ''extreme regret'' over a
Japan-U.S. accord reached in May to move the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air
Station, located in a crowded residential area of Ginowan, to a less densely
populated coastal area in Nago in the prefecture.
''The accord was struck without consultations with us and we have not been
provided with convincing explanations,'' Nakaima said.
He said there is ''effectively no place'' in Okinawa to host a replacement
facility, adding, ''We want the whole of Japan to find a solution to the issue
as the U.S. forces in Okinawa are here to provide security not only for our
prefecture but for the entire East Asian region.''
Nakaima also vowed to implement steps to jump-start the local economy to make
Okinawa ''stand on its own feet'' by focusing on boosting the prefecture's
strengths in tourism, culture and entertainment.
Speaking to reporters at his office, Iha acknowledged that he had failed to
secure the support of a wide range of voters as both he and Nakaima called for
the relocation of the Futenma facility outside of Okinawa.
''I hope Mr. Nakaima will stick to his election pledge and realize the transfer
of the base out of the prefecture,'' Iha said.
The final voter turnout was 60.88 percent, 3.66 percentage points lower than
the previous gubernatorial election in 2006. There were 1,068,195 eligible
voters in Okinawa as of Sunday, according to the prefectural election board.
The DPJ did not field a candidate or officially endorse any of the three
candidates, as the party is seeking to relocate the U.S. military base within
Okinawa in line with the latest Japan-U.S. accord reached in May.
In Tokyo, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama told reporters that
the outcome of the gubernatorial election is ''a representation of the will of
the people of Okinawa Prefecture.''
''We will make every effort to reduce the burden on people in Okinawa based on
the Japan-U.S. accord and hope to hold sincere talks to gain the understanding
of Mr. Nakaima and people in the prefecture'' on the transfer of Futenma,
Fukuyama said.
Nakaima, who had previously conditionally accepted the relocation of the base
within Okinawa, indicated he would leave room for negotiations with the central
government on the base issue. He also received the backing of a local chapter
of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party in the gubernatorial election.
Iha adopted a more hard-line approach, seeking to transfer the Futenma base to
the U.S. territory of Guam. He said he would refuse to talk with the central
government as long as the current relocation plan remains in place.
The Okinawa governor can effectively halt the plan to relocate the Futenma base
to the Henoko district in Nago because his approval is required for the land
reclamation necessary to construct a replacement military facility.
==Kyodo
