September 15, 2015
Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi on September 14 announced that the prefectural authorities launched procedures to revoke the approval of Henoko landfill project needed to construct a new U.S. base, following the resumption of Henoko reclamation work by the central government.
The controversy over a U.S. Henoko facility in Okinawa’s Nago City as replacement for the U.S. Futenma base (Ginowan City, Okinawa) has entered a new phase with an expected court struggle between Okinawa and Tokyo. The central government will reportedly sue the local government if Okinawa rescinds its landfill permission.
Onaga at a press conference held in the prefectural government office building said he came to decide on the cancellation of approval because the national government “did not listen at all” to his requests.
In response to the Okinawa decision, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide insisted that “no legal flaws were found” in the approval Onaga’s predecessor had granted.
The Public Water Reclamation Act stipulates that any reclamation work requires the prefectural governor’s authorization after meeting six requirements which include sufficient considerations for environment conservation and protection. In light of these requirements, third-party experts in July concluded in their report to the prefecture that the approval process contained some legal flaws.
Onaga became governor of Okinawa as a result of the gubernatorial election last November with a campaign promise to oppose the central government plan to construct another U.S. base in Okinawa. By a large margin of about 100,000 votes, he beat the then incumbent Nakaima Hirokazu who had given permission for reclamation work at Henoko. In the Nago City mayoral election and in the general election which took place after Onaga’s victory, base opponents defeated pro-base rivals.
Former Okinawa Governor Nakaima was at first reluctant to accept the Futenma base relocation to Henoko. He was claiming that the proposed Henoko landfill “would make it impossible” to conserve the natural environment of the area. However, eventually giving in to pressure from the Abe administration, he made an about-face.
Winning the battle with Nakaima who betrayed Okinawans’ expectations, Onaga explored ways to hold negotiations with the central government in order to convey Okinawans’ strong opposition to the base construction. He succeeded in achieving a one-month suspension of Henoko landfill work while Okinawa-Tokyo intensive discussions were conducted five times. Coming to understand that the central government has no intention to show an attitude of sympathy to Okinawans, “I’ve made up my mind to initiate action,” said Onaga.
It will be important to support the decision made by the Onaga-led Okinawa government nationwide and increase public opposition so that Okinawa can win in the upcoming court struggle against the central government.
Past related articles:
> Talks on US base construction in Okinawa break down [September 8, 2015]
> Okinawa gov’t starts undersea environmental survey at US base construction site [September 1, 2015]
> 3,800 Okinawans rally to block restart of Henoko construction work [September 6, 2015]
> Okinawans granted one-month suspension of Henoko construction work [August 5, 2015]
The controversy over a U.S. Henoko facility in Okinawa’s Nago City as replacement for the U.S. Futenma base (Ginowan City, Okinawa) has entered a new phase with an expected court struggle between Okinawa and Tokyo. The central government will reportedly sue the local government if Okinawa rescinds its landfill permission.
Onaga at a press conference held in the prefectural government office building said he came to decide on the cancellation of approval because the national government “did not listen at all” to his requests.
In response to the Okinawa decision, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide insisted that “no legal flaws were found” in the approval Onaga’s predecessor had granted.
The Public Water Reclamation Act stipulates that any reclamation work requires the prefectural governor’s authorization after meeting six requirements which include sufficient considerations for environment conservation and protection. In light of these requirements, third-party experts in July concluded in their report to the prefecture that the approval process contained some legal flaws.
Onaga became governor of Okinawa as a result of the gubernatorial election last November with a campaign promise to oppose the central government plan to construct another U.S. base in Okinawa. By a large margin of about 100,000 votes, he beat the then incumbent Nakaima Hirokazu who had given permission for reclamation work at Henoko. In the Nago City mayoral election and in the general election which took place after Onaga’s victory, base opponents defeated pro-base rivals.
Former Okinawa Governor Nakaima was at first reluctant to accept the Futenma base relocation to Henoko. He was claiming that the proposed Henoko landfill “would make it impossible” to conserve the natural environment of the area. However, eventually giving in to pressure from the Abe administration, he made an about-face.
Winning the battle with Nakaima who betrayed Okinawans’ expectations, Onaga explored ways to hold negotiations with the central government in order to convey Okinawans’ strong opposition to the base construction. He succeeded in achieving a one-month suspension of Henoko landfill work while Okinawa-Tokyo intensive discussions were conducted five times. Coming to understand that the central government has no intention to show an attitude of sympathy to Okinawans, “I’ve made up my mind to initiate action,” said Onaga.
It will be important to support the decision made by the Onaga-led Okinawa government nationwide and increase public opposition so that Okinawa can win in the upcoming court struggle against the central government.
Past related articles:
> Talks on US base construction in Okinawa break down [September 8, 2015]
> Okinawa gov’t starts undersea environmental survey at US base construction site [September 1, 2015]
> 3,800 Okinawans rally to block restart of Henoko construction work [September 6, 2015]
> Okinawans granted one-month suspension of Henoko construction work [August 5, 2015]
