Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06FUKUOKA27
2006-04-24 09:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Fukuoka
Cable title:
RE-ELECTED IWAKUNI MAYOR TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE ON U.S. NAVAL
how-toVZCZCXRO1996 PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH DE RUEHFK #0027 1140913 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 240913Z APR 06 FM AMCONSUL FUKUOKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0191 INFO RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0197 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 0079 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 0078 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0087 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0083 RUEHKO/USDAO TOKYO JA RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHOVVKG/COMSEVENTHFLT RHMFIUU/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA RHMFIUU/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFIUU/NAF ATSUGI JA RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/USMCACT MCAS IWAKUNI JP RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 0209
UNCLAS FUKUOKA 000027
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MARR PREL JA
SUBJECT: RE-ELECTED IWAKUNI MAYOR TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE ON U.S. NAVAL
AIR WING RELOCATION ISSUE?
REF: Fukuoka 21
Sensitive but Unclassified -- please protect accordingly.
UNCLAS FUKUOKA 000027
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MARR PREL JA
SUBJECT: RE-ELECTED IWAKUNI MAYOR TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE ON U.S. NAVAL
AIR WING RELOCATION ISSUE?
REF: Fukuoka 21
Sensitive but Unclassified -- please protect accordingly.
1. (U) On April 23, Katsusuke Ihara easily defeated an
LDP-supported opponent and a third candidate in the Iwakuni City
mayoral election. Ihara, who was mayor of Iwakuni City prior to
its March 20 merger with seven smaller towns, obtained 69% of
the votes compared to the 28% and 2% obtained by LDP-backed Taro
Ajimura and independent Kiyoyuki Tanaka, respectively. Although
the voter turnout rate of 65% was below the 70% recorded for the
previous mayoral election in April 2003, it was nevertheless
higher than the 58% reached in the March 12 anti-U.S.
carrier-based air wing transfer referendum spearheaded by Ihara
(reftel).
2. (U) Ihara's re-election and huge margin of victory were
widely anticipated. In his campaign, he promised to carry out
the results of the March 12 referendum by continuing to demand
that the GOJ withdraw its plans to permit the relocation of 58
aircraft from U.S. Naval Air Facility, Atsugi to U.S. Marine
Corps Air Station, Iwakuni. Moreover, despite the local
business community's concerns about the referendum's impact on
possible GOJ financial subsidies related to the air wing
transfer, his backers never wavered in their support for him.
Ihara also benefited from the fact that LDP and LDP-affiliated
Iwakuni City assembly members were reluctant to endorse Ajimura
wholeheartedly for fear of hurting their own re-election
prospects this coming fall. (Note: although Ajimura was
supported by both the LDP and Komei Party leadership, party
discipline was weak at the local chapter level. End Note.)
3. (SBU) Comment: Post's contacts in Iwakuni remain guarded
in their views concerning whether Ihara will be more forthcoming
on the air wing transfer issue now that he has been re-elected.
Nevertheless, there may be some signs of hope. A Chugoku
Shimbun newspaper reporter noted to us that Ihara hinted at some
flexibility during the campaign when he said he would "seek GOJ
countermeasures to cope with the noise (from the aircraft) if
there is a relocation." Officials at the Defense Facilities
Administration Bureau's Iwakuni branch echo the reporter's
interpretation of Ihara's possible willingness to negotiate with
the GOJ. Local entities with which Ihara had had an
antagonistic relationship appear to be extending an olive branch
to him as well. The new chairman of the Iwakuni Chamber of
Commerce expressed to us his organization's interest in working
with Ihara so as to promote their city's economic development
and attract new businesses. End Comment.
WONG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MARR PREL JA
SUBJECT: RE-ELECTED IWAKUNI MAYOR TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE ON U.S. NAVAL
AIR WING RELOCATION ISSUE?
REF: Fukuoka 21
Sensitive but Unclassified -- please protect accordingly.
1. (U) On April 23, Katsusuke Ihara easily defeated an
LDP-supported opponent and a third candidate in the Iwakuni City
mayoral election. Ihara, who was mayor of Iwakuni City prior to
its March 20 merger with seven smaller towns, obtained 69% of
the votes compared to the 28% and 2% obtained by LDP-backed Taro
Ajimura and independent Kiyoyuki Tanaka, respectively. Although
the voter turnout rate of 65% was below the 70% recorded for the
previous mayoral election in April 2003, it was nevertheless
higher than the 58% reached in the March 12 anti-U.S.
carrier-based air wing transfer referendum spearheaded by Ihara
(reftel).
2. (U) Ihara's re-election and huge margin of victory were
widely anticipated. In his campaign, he promised to carry out
the results of the March 12 referendum by continuing to demand
that the GOJ withdraw its plans to permit the relocation of 58
aircraft from U.S. Naval Air Facility, Atsugi to U.S. Marine
Corps Air Station, Iwakuni. Moreover, despite the local
business community's concerns about the referendum's impact on
possible GOJ financial subsidies related to the air wing
transfer, his backers never wavered in their support for him.
Ihara also benefited from the fact that LDP and LDP-affiliated
Iwakuni City assembly members were reluctant to endorse Ajimura
wholeheartedly for fear of hurting their own re-election
prospects this coming fall. (Note: although Ajimura was
supported by both the LDP and Komei Party leadership, party
discipline was weak at the local chapter level. End Note.)
3. (SBU) Comment: Post's contacts in Iwakuni remain guarded
in their views concerning whether Ihara will be more forthcoming
on the air wing transfer issue now that he has been re-elected.
Nevertheless, there may be some signs of hope. A Chugoku
Shimbun newspaper reporter noted to us that Ihara hinted at some
flexibility during the campaign when he said he would "seek GOJ
countermeasures to cope with the noise (from the aircraft) if
there is a relocation." Officials at the Defense Facilities
Administration Bureau's Iwakuni branch echo the reporter's
interpretation of Ihara's possible willingness to negotiate with
the GOJ. Local entities with which Ihara had had an
antagonistic relationship appear to be extending an olive branch
to him as well. The new chairman of the Iwakuni Chamber of
Commerce expressed to us his organization's interest in working
with Ihara so as to promote their city's economic development
and attract new businesses. End Comment.
WONG