 Government sued by local residents over a new U.S. base Demanding a halt to a seabed drilling survey carried out in preparation for the construction of a new U.S. base, 68 residents and fishermen of the Henoko District in Nago City in Okinawa on December 27 filed a lawsuit with Naha District Court against the Japanese government. This is the first legal action to question the constitutionality of the construction since Japan agreed in 1996 on the plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corp Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City to the sea off the Henoko District. Plaintiffs are complaining that the construction of a new U.S. base will not only cause extra damage to the local residents but also destroy the surrounding natural environment and that the drilling surveys will violate fishing and environmental rights as well as the right to live in peace. The drilling survey has already been carried out since mid-November, causing serious damage to coral reefs in 34 spots. (end) |