OKINAWA, Japan – Residents of Japan’s Okinawa go to the polls Sunday in a closely watched referendum on the controversial relocation of a US military base to a remote part of the island. ADVERTISEMENTThe ballot will ask residents whether they support a plan to reclaim land at a remote coastal site for the relocation of the Futenma base from its current location in a heavily-populated part of Okinawa. Although the referendum is not legally binding, “it is significant that people in Okinawa can express their will through the vote,” said Jun Shimabukuro, a professor at Ryukyu University in Okinawa. ‘Making a fool of Okinawa’The Futenma base has stoked tension with local residents over problems ranging from noise and military accidents to crime involving base residents. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government says the relocation will address those concerns, but many in Okinawa want the base relocated elsewhere in Japan.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 23, 2019 23:26 UTC