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by The Associated Press
Posted on Feb. 24 2019 19:53 MST
TOKYO – Residents of the insular Okinawa region in southwestern Japan have rejected the plan to relocate a US military base that was the subject of a referendum, undermining a security agreement Bilateral failed for years.
Sunday's voting results showed that 72 percent of those polled objected to plans to build a marine airbase at a Henoko coastline landfill. Support to the resettlement plan was 19%.
The referendum is not legally binding but underlines the Okinawans' feeling about the relocation plan.
Henoko has to replace a base in Futenma located in a more residential area and criticized for its noisy and dangerous nature.
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki said on Monday that the results should be respected.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated the government's view that the Henoko plan would not be changed.
The Associated Press
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