Despite protesting the murder of a local woman and calling for revisions in the U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, local Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito officials will not take part in what may be the biggest Okinawan anti-base rally in nearly two decades.
Organizers hope the rally Sunday will draw at least 50,000 people angered by the murder of Rina Shimabukuro, 20, allegedly by Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, an American civilian worker at Kadena Air Base.
It will also denounce the construction of a replacement facility for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma at Henoko in the prefecture.
Those expected to attend include Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga, most if not all of the prefecture's mayors and village heads, and local and national politicians from a broad coalition of opposition parties. Prefectural assembly members loyal to Onaga, who increased their majority in the June 5 local election, will also be present.
The rally is expected to adopt a resolution calling for U.S. Marines to leave Okinawa and for Futenma to be closed and not relocated within the prefecture.
Protesters are also expected to call for fundamental revision of SOFA, which governs U.S. military personnel, their dependents and civilian workers. Finally, they will demand apologies from Tokyo and Washington to the people of Okinawa and compensation for Shimabukuro's family.
While local LDP members and state minister of Okinawan affairs Aiko Shimajiri have called for SOFA's revision, they cannot support a resolution that opposes relocating Futenma within the prefecture. Shimajiri represents Okinawa in the Upper House and faces a tough re-election campaign.
On Tuesday, Moriyuki Teruya, the local LDP chapter's vice-chairman, told a news conference his members cannot participate in the rally, given that its resolution cites opposition to Henoko. Komeito has also indicated it would not participate.
The ruling coalition has complained about the timing of the rally, which takes place just three days before official campaigning for the Upper House election kicks off.
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