Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                Japan's PM Heckled At World War II Commemoration

   by VOA News

   Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was heckled Tuesday as he gave a
   speech to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa,
   one of World War II's bloodiest battles.

   In a reflection of widespread local resentment at the U.S. military
   presence on Okinawa, members of the audience shouted "go home" and
   "stop lying" as the prime minister took the stage.

   "I will stand at the forefront to move forward the development of
   Okinawa," said Abe, amid jeers from the crowd. "The people of Okinawa
   have carried the burden of concentration of the U.S. bases for the sake
   of national security."

   Many Okinawans resent the presence of the tens of thousands of U.S.
   troops, citing the soldiers' behavior, noise pollution and the dangers
   of an aircraft crash on the densely populated island.

   A plan to relocate the Futenma air base from its current heavily
   populated location to a sparsely populated coastal region is also
   unpopular with many locals.

   Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga, who opposes the relocation plan, was
   greeted warmly as he spoke at Tuesday's commemoration at the Peace
   Memorial Park on the southern tip of Okinawa.

   "We strongly ask the Japanese government to abort the relocation of
   Futenma base to Henoko, and we hope it would once again rethink the
   plans to relocate the U.S. military base within Okinawa," said Onaga.

   Those in attendance at the ceremony also observed a moment of silence
   to remember the over 200,000 people who died in the Battle of Okinawa,
   which took place in the final months of World War II.

   The 82-day battle resulted in a victory for the U.S.-led Allied forces,
   which lost over 10,000 troops. Around 80,000 Japanese soldiers also
   died, many of whom committed suicide by leaping off cliffs rather than
   surrender.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/japan-pn-heckled-at-world-war-ii-comm
   emoration/2833553.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/japan-pn-heckled-at-world-war-ii-commemoration/2833553.html