NAHA —
The three-month detention of a prominent antibase activist in Okinawa over what his supporters call minor offenses has sparked cries of political oppression aimed at weakening local opposition to building new U. S. military facilities in the island prefecture.
On Friday, those supporting Hiroji Yamashiro submitted to the Naha District Court a letter calling for his release with the signatures of about 18,000 people from over 60 countries that were mainly collected online.
One of the organizers, writer Satoshi Kamata, said at a news conference the same day that he believes Yamashiro, who has led civic groups opposed to the relocation of U. S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma within the prefecture, was arrested for political reasons.
“Crackdowns on the peace movement by a military state have begun. I believe Mr.
