Asia-Wide Campaign against U.S.-Japanese domination and aggression of Asia
AWC-Japan
[Document]
Declaration of the Iwakuni International Rally in 2013
We, people from Okinawa, different cities in Japan, South Korea and the United States, gathered here at Iwakuni to oppose the massive consolidation of the US base in Iwakuni and to demand the withdrawal of all the US troops from Asia. Since just after the launching of the Abe administration on last December 2012, it has pursued the consolidation of the US-Japan military alliance for preparation of possible war in East Asia, and has also developed its own military building-up. We strongly oppose them.
Despite that citizens in Iwakuni clearly showed their will of opposition against consolidation of the Iwakuni base on March 2006, the US and Japanese governments have planned to consolidate the base as one of the biggest US bases in the Far East through the following way: the using of the base as an operational hub for the Osprey aircrafts, the building of massive housing complex for the US servicemen, the transfer of the squadron for aerial refueling from the Futenma base in Okinawa on 2014, the transfer of the career-based fighters from the Atsugi base in Kanagawa until 2017, and the deployment of the newest F-35 stealth fighters on also 2017. We shall unite with the people in Iwakuni, support their unyielding struggle fully and expand the solidarity for Iwakuni people nation-wide. We shall also tell the fact of massive consolidation of the Iwakuni base to our fellow people in Asia-Pacific and organize international coordinated campaign as one of common issue that people in the region face.
Faced with the people's resistance in Okinawa, Iwakuni, Kanagawa and elsewhere, the US and Japanese government already abandoned their original plan that they shall finished its comprehensive realignment project of the US forces in Japan until 2014. Okinawan people's struggle against construction of the new US base in Henoko and of the new US military helicopter pad in Takae have took a decisive role in the development of the struggle against the US-Japanese governments' project. But now, in order to break through these situation, the Abe administration is intensifying its offence toward construction of the new base in Henoko through its every efforts. The election of Nago city mayor on coming January 2014 will become a focus point this offence and defence. In addition, the drives of the building of the new US X-band radar base at Cape Kyogamisaki, Kyotango-city, Kyoto and the possible deployment of the Osprey aircraft at a airport in Yao-city, Osaka have been launched. We do never need any US bases in Okinawa and elsewhere. The accidents and crimes that would be committed by the US troops, including heinous crimes such as rape cases against women and children, would never eradicate without dismantlement of the US bases. Therefore, We must overcome the governments' offences toward realignment of the US forces in Japan and the US-Japanese military integration, developing the coordination among the struggle against the US bases in Okinawa, Iwakuni, Kanagawa, Kyoto and elsewhere and among the struggle against deployment of the Osprey and its low altitude flight trainings nation-wide.
These are the part of the struggle that confront the Abe administration's war drive directly. The administration intend to set up the the Japanese National Security Council and pass the State Secret Protection bill at eh ongoing Diet session. It also planned to enact the National Security Act that allow the using of the right of collective self-defence and finally amend the Constitution itself even in the next year. We shall unified the struggle against the government's war drive and the continuing anti-base struggle that carry out in different areas.
In the context of the 'US pivot to Asia-Pacific', the massive reinforcement of the US bases and the US military presence is going on in the region now. The US forces have no borders. The ongoing realignment project of the US forces in Japan and the US-Japanese military integration is just a part of the US military strategy. We, along with the people in the region, therefore, must develop solidarity and international coordinated campaign toward withdrawal of all the US troops in Asia-pacific, confronting the government's promoting chauvinistic propaganda in taking advantage of the territorial disputes including Diaoyu islands issue between China and Japan. We shall intensify our support and solidarity to the struggle against the US bases and the US military presence in different countries/areas. As a part of this, we will join the annual peace march in Gunsan, South Korea on the next year.
Due to neo-liberal policies that the Abe administration promote, poverty is expanding and people's rights are being deprived. In addition, people will face the increasing of the consumption tax and the cutting down of social welfare. We shall unify the people's struggle to survive, the struggle against the government's war drive and also the struggle against reoperation of nuclear reactors and exports of reactors, and fight for people's future without military bases and nuclear power plants. The future shall not be given from anyone but only realized by the people's struggle. Shall we uphold the flag of internationalism, and advance toward people's future!
November 30, 2013
adopted by participants of the Iwakuni International Rally