Government forcibly starts exhibition of assessment documents for U.S. base construction

   In defiance of opposition of local governments and residents, the Naha Defense Facilities Administration Bureau on August 14 started to exhibit documents showing the methods of an environmental assessment for a new U.S. military base to be constructed on the coastline of the U.S. Camp Schwab in Okinawa’s Nago City.

The documents will be available for general inspection for one month at the bureau offices in Okinawa and at a hotel in Nago City. The Okinawa prefectural and Nago city governments have refused to provide their facilities for the inspection process.

   On August 13, political parties and organizations opposing the new U.S. base construction held a rally in Naha City protesting the Defense Ministry’s forcible submission of the documents to the prefectural government.

   On behalf of the organizers, Tamaki Yoshikazu stated before about 300 participants that contrary to the government promise that the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan is aimed at a reduction of Okinawans’ base burdens, the government is in fact imposing increased burdens on Okinawa. “We strongly protest the central government policy. We will push the government to cancel the construction of a new base,” he said.

   Itokazu Keiko, who was reelected to the House of Councilors in the recent election, said, “Every vote I received demonstrates the willingness to reject a new U.S. base in Okinawa. We must protect the sea off Henoko, dugongs’ habitat, in order to preserve endangered species and attain economic independence using environment friendly approaches.”

   Japanese Communist Party House of Representatives member Akamine Seiken as well as members of the Democratic and Social Democratic parties spoke.                                 - Akahata, August 14 & 15, 2007