Okinawans Vote for Reduction in U.S. Bases

Okinawans voted more than 10 to 1 Sunday in favor of a reduction of U.S. military bases on their islands, in a referendum aimed at pressuring Washington to pull out its troops.

With virtually all of the ballots counted, about 90% of voters said that there were too many U.S. troops on their southern islands and that an agreement giving the troops special legal status should be changed. About 8% voted against the referendum.

“For half a century, our rights have been stepped on,” said Sotoya Gakiya, after casting his vote near Kadena Air Base, the Air Force’s largest outpost in the Pacific. “At least now we have had a chance to give our opinion.”

With just under 60% of Okinawa’s 910,000 registered voters taking part, turnout for the referendum--the first in Japan ever held on the prefectural, or state, level--was lower than expected.

Turnout was particularly low--and the percentage of pro-base votes high--in polling stations near the bases, where thousands of Okinawans are employed.

Each year, the bases pump an estimated $1.8 billion into the local economy.

Sunday’s referendum was not legally binding, but it was being closely watched by officials in Tokyo and Washington.

The strongly anti-base result, though widely expected, was a particularly important victory for Okinawa Gov. Masahide Ota, a popular and outspoken opponent of the U.S. troops.

“This is a historic event,” said Ota, who is expected to use the vote as a bargaining chip when he meets with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on Tuesday.