November 13, 2015
Akahata ‘current’ column
“They are now totally under the prime minister’s thumb.” An ex-official of the Defense Ministry said this about the atmosphere in the ministry. He made this remark in connection with the Abe government’s stance on the issue of the construction of a new U.S. military base in Okinawa.
Abusing the administrative appellate system, the land minister recently suspended Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi’s revocation of his predecessor’s permission for the reclamation work for the base construction. In addition, the central government has begun procedures to circumvent the authority of the governor in order to push ahead with the construction. While trying to win over local residents by pouring state subsidies directly to the wards surrounding the construction site, the government has dispatched riot squads to the district to disperse protesters. These actions show clearly the high-handed tactics the Abe administration is employing.
Why on earth is the base they are frantically trying to build so important? The U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa, who are to be deployed to the new base in Henoko, conducted large-scale exercises in Okinawa in October. The U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes on November 6 reported on the drills called “Blue Chromite”.
The article says: Amphibious boats carrying many U.S. marines rushed out of an assault landing ship and hit the eastern coast of the main island of Okinawa. Those marines then approached “Combat Town”, an urban military training facility where “enemies” were awaiting them. In that “town”, they raided houses one by one and finally overcame the enemy forces. One U.S. platoon “killed” 50 enemies while losing 20 of its own soldiers. The commander said, “I’m happy with my platoon’s performance.” To him, the value of life appears to be meaningless.
Another officer stated on the USMC website, “Blue Chromite is a representation of how the Marine Corps can be used operationally in the Asia-Pacific Region.” The USMC in Okinawa were also engaged in the Iraq War. Their eyes are always turned to action abroad, not to protecting Japan.
The Abe administration is working hard to offer another huge state-of-the-art military base for these forward-deployed expeditionary forces. To achieve this, they ignore the majority will of Okinawans as well as infringe on the rules of a law-governed state. The government acts do not have a bit of reason.
Past related article:
> Okinawa files complaint against land minister’s decision on Henoko base construction [November 3, 2015]
“They are now totally under the prime minister’s thumb.” An ex-official of the Defense Ministry said this about the atmosphere in the ministry. He made this remark in connection with the Abe government’s stance on the issue of the construction of a new U.S. military base in Okinawa.
Abusing the administrative appellate system, the land minister recently suspended Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi’s revocation of his predecessor’s permission for the reclamation work for the base construction. In addition, the central government has begun procedures to circumvent the authority of the governor in order to push ahead with the construction. While trying to win over local residents by pouring state subsidies directly to the wards surrounding the construction site, the government has dispatched riot squads to the district to disperse protesters. These actions show clearly the high-handed tactics the Abe administration is employing.
Why on earth is the base they are frantically trying to build so important? The U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa, who are to be deployed to the new base in Henoko, conducted large-scale exercises in Okinawa in October. The U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes on November 6 reported on the drills called “Blue Chromite”.
The article says: Amphibious boats carrying many U.S. marines rushed out of an assault landing ship and hit the eastern coast of the main island of Okinawa. Those marines then approached “Combat Town”, an urban military training facility where “enemies” were awaiting them. In that “town”, they raided houses one by one and finally overcame the enemy forces. One U.S. platoon “killed” 50 enemies while losing 20 of its own soldiers. The commander said, “I’m happy with my platoon’s performance.” To him, the value of life appears to be meaningless.
Another officer stated on the USMC website, “Blue Chromite is a representation of how the Marine Corps can be used operationally in the Asia-Pacific Region.” The USMC in Okinawa were also engaged in the Iraq War. Their eyes are always turned to action abroad, not to protecting Japan.
The Abe administration is working hard to offer another huge state-of-the-art military base for these forward-deployed expeditionary forces. To achieve this, they ignore the majority will of Okinawans as well as infringe on the rules of a law-governed state. The government acts do not have a bit of reason.
Past related article:
> Okinawa files complaint against land minister’s decision on Henoko base construction [November 3, 2015]
