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WORLD NEWS Monday 1 october 2018

Denny Tamaki, critic of US bases on Okinawa, wins election

By YURI KAGEYAMA areas of Okinawa, making
TOKYO (AP) — Denny Ta- his win certain with the vote
maki, who campaigned partially counted.
criticizing the American Tamaki's victory throws into
military presence on the further question Japan's
southwestern Japanese plans for a new air base
islands of Okinawa, won still under construction in
the election for governor coastal Okinawa.
Sunday, defeating a ruling Okinawa houses about half
party-backed candidate of the 54,000 American
pushing the status quo. troops stationed in Japan
The race was to choose a and makes for 64 percent
successor to Takeshi Ona- of the land space used
ga, who died in August by the U.S. bases, under
of pancreatic cancer. He a bilateral security trea-
wanted the bases off Oki- ty, according to John S.
nawa. Hutcheson, spokesman for
Tamaki, a legislator who the U.S. Forces in Japan.
had pledged to contin- The arrangement has long
ue with Onaga's "spirit," been protested by some
thanked his supporters as his as an unfair burden on Oki-
campaign office broke into nawa, which makes up less
a cheer and later began than 1 percent of Japan's
dancing Okinawa-style, af- Japan's legislator Denny Tamaki, center, celebrates his victory with supporters in the election for land space.
ter several major Japanese Okinawa governor in Naha city, Sunday, Sept 30, 2018. Japan remains highly de-
media polls, including Kyo- Associated Press pendent on the U.S. for de-
do news service, declared fense, but crimes by mem-
him the winner. of any more bases, helped ma, a mayor who had ar- the problem. The final vote bers of the military, includ-
"The strong feelings of bring this victory," Tamaki gued that Okinawa should count was not yet avail- ing hit-and-runs as well as
Takeshi Onaga, risking his told reporters. work with the national able. But media reports rapes, have outraged the
life to stop the construction He defeated Atsushi Saki- government to sort out said Tamaki led in almost all people of Okinawa. q