1996 Okinawan referendum

October 2018 1996 Okinawan referendum Okinawa Okinawa, Japan 1996 09 08 y Reviewing the U.S.–Japan Status of Forces Agreement and reducing the American military bases in Okinawa prefecture. 482538 46232 12868 909832 A referendum was held in Okinawa Prefecture on 8 September 1996 about the presence of United States Forces Japan bases in the prefecture.https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/09/world/okinawans-send-message-to-tokyo-and-us-to-cut-bases.html Okinawans Send Message to Tokyo and U.S. to Cut Bases Andrew Pollack 9 September 1996 18 December 2022 NYTimes.com The referendum asked: "How do you feel about reviewing the Japan-United States Status of Forces Agreement and reducing the American bases in our prefecture?" The wording of the referendum was criticised for being unclear; a telephone survey conducted by the Ryūkyū Shimpō found that people were confused as to whether it called for the complete removal of US bases or just for a reduction in their number. With a turnout of 59.52% (9% lower than that seen in the recent assembly elections), 89% of voters, representing 53% of the electorate, agreed with reviewing the Japan-United States Status of Forces Agreement and reducing the American bases in the prefecture.Eldridge Robert D. The 1996 Okinawa Referendum on U.S. Base Reductions: One Question, Several Answers Asian Survey October 1997 37 10 879-904 10.2307/2645611 https://www.jstor.org/stable/2645611 subscription Crimes committed by American soldiers stationed on the island, including the rape and beating of a 12 year old girl by three soldiers the previous year were seen as contributing to the strong opposition to the base.https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/11/world/outside-one-okinawa-base-a-less-raucous-atmosphere-now.html Outside One Okinawa Base, a Less Raucous Atmosphere Now Andrew Pollack 11 September 1996 18 December 2022 NYTimes.com Support for the bases and thus for a "no" vote on the referendum came from a variety of sources; the local LDP, workers on US bases (at least 200 of which formed a breakaway union in protest of the main base worker union's support for the referendum), landowners of land owned by the US military, and local business owners who were reliant on income from American soldiers. Following the referendum the Governor of Okinawa Masahide Ota said that the results of the referendum should be clear to "those in the U.S. Congress who still feel like they own Okinawa."https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/10/opinion/IHT-the-loaded-okinawa-question-that-didnt-need-answering.html Opinion | The Loaded Okinawa Question That Didn't Need Answering Ralph A. Cossa International Herald Tribune 10 September 1996 18 December 2022 NYTimes.com Despite the victory of those opposed to the bases in the referendum, Governor Ota allowed the expansion of the base to continue after the Supreme Court ruled the central government had authority. References Okinawa Okinawan referendum Okinawan referendum Category:Referendums in Japan Category:Elections in Okinawa Prefecture