51.   Governor Masahide Ota has refused to force reluctant local landowners to renew their leases of land for U.S. military bases.

52.   Hanoi has said it would seek rent if the Russian lease were renewed, something that cash-strapped Moscow seems unwilling to agree to.

53.   Gov. Ota has defied central government orders and a Supreme Court ruling demanding that he force Okinawan landowners to renew land leases for U.S. military facilities.

54.   He might end up renewing that lease after next season.

55.   It also contains provisions he opposes like letting ranchers who lease public lands renew their leases without getting environmental reviews.

56.   JAPAN-US MILITARY, Okinawa refuses to renew land leases for U.S. bases.

57.   Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto filed a lawsuit Friday against the governor of Okinawa for refusing to force a local landowner to renew his lease to the U.S. military.

58.   Last year, cash-strapped Russia declared that it will not be renewing its lease.

59.   Local landowners are also resisting renewing their leases to the Americans.

60.   Massive protests have been held on the southern island there, and some local landowners are refusing to renew leases to the American military.