Statement calling for cancellation of construction plan for new U.S. base was shelved

In Okinawa's Nago City, the local assembly was unable even to discuss a resolution calling for the withdrawal of the "basic plans" for the state-of-the-art U.S. air base to be constructed in the sea near the city, apparently due to pressure from the central government.

At a news conference, Yabe Mikio, the committee chair, revealed that outside pressure was used. He said that the minister in charge of Okinawa affairs elected from the House of Representatives proportional representation constituency was among those who put pressure on assembly members.

The committee chair criticized Nago Mayor Kishimoto Tateo for taking part in the July 29 meeting with the central government and Okinawa Prefecture on the basic plans concerning the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station without proper discussion with or report to the assembly and the committee.

Mayor Kishimoto Tateo gave a sigh of relief, saying, "I would have lost his position if the city assembly had decided to demand the cancellation of the 'basic plan.'"

What happened?

The basic plan had been agreed upon by Mayor Kishimoto, Okinawa Governor Inamine Keiichi, and the central government on July 29.

It is a plan to construct a base on a coral reef off the Henoko district of the city and has met with strong opposition from residents and environmental groups.

On August 1, the Nago City Assembly Special Committee on the U.S. Base unanimously approved a draft statement calling for the withdrawal of the basic plan. It was to be considered by a city assembly extraordinary session. The 12 members of the committee were aware that local residents wanted the coral reef to be protected at any cost.

This came as a shock to the central government, which soon began maneuvering to urge committee members to give up submitting the draft statement to the full assembly. Committee members and their families were threatened by late night phone calls. Some supporters told them that their reelection would not be secured.

Kishimoto himself repeatedly told committee members of the ruling parties not to sponsor the call for cancellation of the plan.

Ten out of the 12 committee members of both ruling and opposition parties succumbed to the pressure and decided to not to sponsor the draft statement. The committee chair resigned saying he can't take responsibility for the committee in such an extraordinary situation. At a press conference, he blamed the Liberal Democratic Party House of Representatives member from the Okinawa constituency for putting pressure on the committee members.

Only two members, one from the Japanese Communist Party and the other with no party affiliation, refused to change their positions , but they couldn't sponsor the statement because three members are necessary to do so.

Gushiken Toru of the JCP said, "Local people want to protect the sea off Henoko from reclamation. The central government can't change its mind no matter how strongly it may be urged. I want to increase JCP city assembly members to two in the September election to realize an Okinawa with no new U.S. base." (end)