OKINAWANS WORRIED OVER WAR IN VIETNAM
The movement of the Okinawans for the return of the Ryukyu islands to Japan is taking an antiwar trend. The reason is the use ‘of these islands, seized by the U.S. as a prize of World War II, in staging military aggression against Vietnam,
Since the U.S. began bombing north Vietnam three months ago, the people of Okinawa have been "gripped by mounting fear...that they may be involved in war again," reports the May 19 Japan Times.
The Okinawan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs has filed.a protest with U.S. authorities against the training of south Vietnamese. Soldiers in the Ryukyus .
According to the Japan Times, "the antiwar trend, it seems, is taking root deeper among the islanders and is being organized by various return-the-islands groups,"
Among such groups is the All-Qkinawa-Military Workers Union which has 8,500 members out of 38,000 Okinawan base workers. Putting up a battle for the safety of Okinawans working at the U.S. base, the - union is "refusing to co-operate in war activities.
On May. L7 the. Okinawan. legislature began deliberations on a resolution brought . in by the. opposition’ against. Okinawan involvement in the war in Vietnam.