January 27, 2015

The Okinawa governor on January 26 announced that he will set up a third-party panel to investigate whether or not his predecessor followed proper procedure in the process of approving the reclamation work for the construction of a new U.S. base in Nago’s Henoko district in the prefecture.

At a press conference held in the prefectural government office, Governor Onaga Takeshi said that three lawyers and three environment experts will serve on the panel. Onaga won the 2014 November gubernatorial election by pledging to oppose the base construction plan.

Onaga expressed his intention to urge the Defense Ministry’s Okinawa Defense Bureau to halt the ongoing preparatory work for the reclamation project until the independent panel issues its investigation results. Later on the same day, the vice governor visited the Okinawa Defense Bureau to convey the governors’ request.

In December 2013, former Governor Nakaima Hirokazu approved the state application for the Henoko reclamation work in defiance of warnings from the prefecture’s environment-protection department about possible ecological damages. He also neglected his legal obligation as a governor to give consideration to wildlife preservation when he went ahead with his decision.

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Regarding the recent crackdown on protesters in Henoko, Governor Onaga on January 26 called senior officials of the prefectural police and the Japan Coast Guard’ Okinawa branch to his office to condemn their harsh behavior.