Thursday, October 15, 2009

Winter Soldiers, Rick and Adam, Visit Okinawa - Developing Solidarity with Okinawans


On September 18, in Naha, an emergency rally was organized in the wake of the "administration change". People of Okinawa moved to clearly represent their will to urge the Democratic Party of Japan to keep their words in their election pledge that they would have Futenma Airbase transferred to outside the prefecture. (About 600 people participated. See the photo.) Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, Rick Reyes and Adam Kokesh said they "wanted to see the rally". On the site, they found a rally taking place orderly, showing deep resolve. While listening to background explanation, it appeared a strong feeling of solidarity emerged in them. The organizer of the rally welcomed the two and introduced them to the rally participants as "veterans going around Japan to let people know that the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan are crimes", which invited big applause. (After the rally, they marched to demand the return of Futenma and scrapping of the new base construction plan.) (Masumi Mukai, on tour with the two) Visit http://www.ivaw.org/, http://rethinkafghanistan.com/ and http://wintersoldier.web.fc2.com/wintersoldier.html.


「冬の兵士」リックとアダムが沖縄へ~大きな連帯の輪はぐくむ
9月18日。この日那覇では、「政権交代」を受け、民主党が「普天間県外移設」を公約していることを踏まえて、再度しっかりと県民の意思を表明して、この公約を実現させるための緊急集会が開催されました(約600名が参加・写真)。イラク、アフガニスタン帰還兵リックとアダムは、この集会を「見たい」と言いました。行ってみると、整然、決然と集会が行われており、説明を受けるなかで、連帯の気持ちを強くもったようでした。集会主催者もこの二人を歓迎し、「イラクとアフガニスタンの占領は間違っていることを伝えるために、各地をまわっておられる帰還兵です」と集会参加者全員に紹介していただき、大きな拍手を浴びました。(ツアー同行者・向井真澄)・冬の兵士HP

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