20 March 2017

News Story: Antibase Okinawa activist released after 5 months detention

NAHA (Kyodo) -- A prominent leader of antibase activity in Okinawa was released on bail Saturday after five months in detention in connection with his opposition to U.S. military bases there.

The Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court ordered Hiroji Yamashiro, 64, who heads the Okinawa Peace Action Center, released on bail, upholding the Naha District Court's decision on Friday to grant bail. Prosecutors had appealed the district court ruling.

Yamashiro was arrested in October for allegedly cutting barbed wire at a U.S. military training area in Higashi, Okinawa, the southern island prefecture where the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan are located.

Yamashiro has led groups opposing a plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma within the prefecture.

Read the full story at The Mainichi