 Agency pushes geological research for Nago's new base Ignoring residents' protests, the Naha Regional Defense Facilities Administration Bureau on the early morning of November 16 began collecting tools for boring related to geological research, in preparation for the construction of a state-of-the-art U.S. military airport off the Henoko district of Nago City in Okinawa Prefecture. The agency plans to set up the scaffolds necessary for the boring. At six o'clock, residents and members of the Nago Council against the Construction of the U.S. On-Sea Heliport (on board four boats) called on the agency's staff members to stop their work and hold talks. More than 300 citizens who have carried out a months-long "anti-base sit-in" gathered on Henoko's shore to protest. International environmental organizations are calling for the protection of rare species of dugong living in the coral reef off Nago. In a statement issued on November 15, the Nago Council (Ashitomi Hiroshi, chair) stated, "We will never allow even one pile to be driven in the beautiful sea of Nago." The Nago Council to Block the Construction of the U.S. On-Sea Heliport (Kaneshiro Yuji, chair) called on all Okinawans to support their campaign. (end) |