August 25, 2016

The Nago Police in Okinawa arrested a man on the morning of August 24 who was participating in a protest against the construction of U.S. military helipads in the Takae district of Higashi Village for ostensibly interfering with the execution of official duties.

The police allege that the man kicked a riot police officer in the stomach. However, a witness said that the man denied the charge.

On the afternoon of the same day, about 80 citizens rallied outside the Nago police station to protest the arrest.

At the rally, a representative of a local pacifist group said that when the group requested disclosure of official documents concerning the concentration of 500 riot police officers in the small village, the prefectural public safety commission rejected the request under the pretext that the documents may be taken advantage of by “forces aiming to commit a crime”. He went on to stress that it is outrageous for the security authorities to treat local protesters as if they are criminal gang members.

Rally participants cried out in chorus, “Stop the suppression and unwarranted arrests!” “Release our comrade immediately!”

Past related articles:
> US soldiers carrying guns walk along farm road in Takae [August 13, 2016]
> More than 1,000 people rally to block helipad construction in Takae [August 6, 2016]