October 26, 2015
A group of administrative law researchers on October 23 released a statement demanding dismissal of complaints filed by the Okinawa Defense Bureau against Governor Onaga Takeshi’s decision to revoke the approval of the reclamation work at Nago’s Henoko district.
This is the first time for administrative law experts to issue a statement regarding procedures performed by the national government over the Henoko base issue. As of October 23, nearly 100 experts expressed their support for the statement.
The statement pointed out that although the administrative appeal system is set up to protect people’s rights from administrative misconduct, the defense bureau, which constitutes Japan’s defense organization, designated itself as a “private individual” and requested the land minister, who has jurisdiction over the reclamation law, to examine its complaint against the Okinawa governor’s decision and suspend execution of that decision. The statement criticized the bureau’s act for abusing the administrative appeal system and stated, “It is outrageous and totally unacceptable in a nation governed by the rule of law.”
The statement called on the land minister to dismiss the Okinawa Defense Bureau’s request without delay.
Honda Takio, one of initiators of the statement and professor at Ryukoku University Law School, referred to the fact that in March, the government misused the administrative appeal system to invalidate Governor Onaga’s order for the defense bureau to suspend the preparatory work at Henoko. Honda said, “This aroused great concerns among researchers. Under a situation similar to what happened in March, I believe administrative law experts have to raise their voices in protest to increase public opposition.”
Past related articles:
> Defense bureau files complaint against Okinawa governor’s decision [October 15, 2015]
> Okinawa Governor cancels landfill approval for US base construction in Henoko [October 14, 2015]
This is the first time for administrative law experts to issue a statement regarding procedures performed by the national government over the Henoko base issue. As of October 23, nearly 100 experts expressed their support for the statement.
The statement pointed out that although the administrative appeal system is set up to protect people’s rights from administrative misconduct, the defense bureau, which constitutes Japan’s defense organization, designated itself as a “private individual” and requested the land minister, who has jurisdiction over the reclamation law, to examine its complaint against the Okinawa governor’s decision and suspend execution of that decision. The statement criticized the bureau’s act for abusing the administrative appeal system and stated, “It is outrageous and totally unacceptable in a nation governed by the rule of law.”
The statement called on the land minister to dismiss the Okinawa Defense Bureau’s request without delay.
Honda Takio, one of initiators of the statement and professor at Ryukoku University Law School, referred to the fact that in March, the government misused the administrative appeal system to invalidate Governor Onaga’s order for the defense bureau to suspend the preparatory work at Henoko. Honda said, “This aroused great concerns among researchers. Under a situation similar to what happened in March, I believe administrative law experts have to raise their voices in protest to increase public opposition.”
Past related articles:
> Defense bureau files complaint against Okinawa governor’s decision [October 15, 2015]
> Okinawa Governor cancels landfill approval for US base construction in Henoko [October 14, 2015]
