A message of solidarity from Japan: Your resistance is ours

author : Shoji Niihara topic : Iraq occupation | Port Militarization Resistance

I applaud your magnificent resistance against illegal the war and occupation in Iraq. The very active work by all of you to protest the shipment of war machines to Iraq has encouraged us and given us an impetus to renew our efforts to prevent the US military from using our land for war of aggression anywhere in the world.

I admire the "Citizen's Injunction to Halt the Shipment of Military Material to Iraq." It is a true manifestation of the people's democracy, descending from Thomas Paine, Henry David Thoreau, and Martin Luther King, Jr. It shows the way to accuse and condemn criminality of the Iraq War by the Bush Administration. It also helps to stimulate our fighting instinct to stop the murderous act worldwide from US military bases in Japan.

Japan has been transformed into the number one unsinkable aircraft carrier for US war strategy. Your resistance is ours.

Your activities for peace are strongly supported by us and by many Japanese people who love peace.

We thank the people of Olympia and the South Puget Sound in their struggle against the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Thank you, Lt. Watada. Thank you, TJ Johnson.

Let us unite closely in order to stop the wars of aggression and to remove all US military bases abroad.

Let us unite for peace and justice.

Shoji Niihara

Tokyo, Japan

Researcher on International Affairs

Shoji Niihara is a member of the Japan Peace Committee and one of the 25 Japanese peace activists who visited Olympia last summer.