{"id":5444,"date":"2010-01-12T21:27:10","date_gmt":"2010-01-13T05:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/?p=5444"},"modified":"2010-01-13T20:05:43","modified_gmt":"2010-01-14T04:35:43","slug":"protest-greets-hillary-clinton-at-the-east-west-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dmzhawaii.org\/?p=5444","title":{"rendered":"Protest greets Hillary Clinton at the East West Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Angela Hoppe Cruz, a Chamorro student at UH, demonstrates her solidarity against U.S. military bases in Okinawa as well as Guam, her homeland. Photo: Eri Oura<\/em><\/p>\n

Today in Honolulu, a lively protest outside the East West Center greeted U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who delivered a speech on the U.S. vision for the Asia-Pacific region.\u00a0 Protesters represented a wide range of groups and issues including anti-bases movements in Okinawa, Guam, The Philippines and Hawai’i, Palestinian support groups, peace and anti-war groups and Hawaiian sovereignty groups.<\/p>\n

Col. Ann Wright (Retired) and the American Friends Service Committee – Hawai’i called the action with very short notice to send a message to the Obama administration that the peoples of the Asia-Pacific demand peace, not endless war and militarization.<\/p>\n

A critical issue for Clinton on this visit was the disagreement between the U.S. and Japan over the fate of U.S. military bases in Okinawa.\u00a0 Earlier in the day, she met with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada to discuss Futenma air station, but was unable to reach a deal.<\/p>\n

The U.S. has urged Japan to stick to an earlier agreement negotiated by the previous Japan and U.S. administrations that would relocate Futenma base to the pristine coral reefs of Henoko, Okinawa, and move thousands of marines and other facilities to Guam.\u00a0\u00a0 However, the new ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which recently ended a fifty-year reign by the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, has called for abandoning the agreement and seeking the complete removal of the Futenma base from Okinawa.\u00a0 The Japanese government has delayed its decision on the fate of the Futenma air station.\u00a0 If Futenma were to be moved off of Okinawa, it would most likely be relocated to the American colony of Guam, although the Japanese government has been scouting several of Japan’s smaller off-shore islands as possible relocation sites.<\/p>\n

However many of Guam’s indigenous Chamorro people are deeply concerned about the devastating environmental, cultural and social impact of the proposed military expansion.\u00a0 They feel that Chamorro culture would drown in the flood of militarization.\u00a0 Ongoing public hearings on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed buildup have been packed, with the overwhelming majority opposing the military expansion.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Eri Oura<\/em><\/p>\n

Today’s demonstration in Honolulu highlighted solidarity between movements in Hawai’i, Okinawa and Guam and called for a different alternative: the reduction of the U.S. military footprint in the Pacific.\u00a0 This would allow for bases to be removed from Okinawa, without moving the impacts and problems to Guam, Hawai’i or another location.<\/p>\n

Kisha Borja-Kicho`cho` and Angela Hoppe Cruz, Chamorro students at the University of Hawai’i, sang a song in their native language.\u00a0 Borja-Kicho’cho’ also recited an angry poem opposed to the military expansion. “We don’t want your military bases!” she said over the bullhorn as Clinton was greeted at the East West Center.<\/p>\n

Ann Wright said “We want peace in the Pacific, not more militarization and wars. Get your bases out of the Pacific!”<\/p>\n

Prior to Clinton’s arrival, security was thick.\u00a0 Only invited guests were allowed within 100 feet of the Imin Conference Center.\u00a0 However the line of banners and signs were visible to the attendees, and demonstrators chanting “Stop the wars!\u00a0 Bases Out!” echoed between the buildings as Clinton was whisked from her car.\u00a0 The chants continued to disrupt the event until security gave a final warning to the group to turn off the bullhorn.<\/p>\n

The main banner read “Asia – Pacific Vision:\u00a0 Peace”, “Bases Out – Guam – Okinawa – Hawai’i”, and “End the Wars.”\u00a0 Another sign out in the shape of the endagered Okinawan Dugong, said “Peace for Okinawa”, “No Bases in Okinawa”, “Save the Dugong” and “Nuchi du Takara” (Life if most precious).\u00a0 Another sign had the outline of Guam with “Asia – Pacific Vision, No Military Build-up”.\u00a0 Groups also held signs opposing the militarization of Hawai’i, calling for an and to the wars and torture, and calling for the U.S. to stop supporting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.\u00a0 One demonstrator waved the upside-down Hawaiian flag, a sign of the nation in distress.<\/p>\n

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Other coverage of Clinton’s visit and the demonstrations:<\/p>\n

Hawaii News Now mentioned the demonstration:\u00a0 “Protestors also showed up. About two dozen people held anti-war signs and chanted to attract attention. They weren’t allowed in to hear the speech.” The full story is here: \u00a0 http:\/\/www.hawaiinewsnow.com\/Global\/story.asp?S=11813005<\/a><\/p>\n