Japan Press Weekly

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2017 January 5 - 10 [POLITICS]

With renewed determination, Okinawans rally to block Henoko base construction

Braving the cold rain, over 400 Okinawans on January 5 held a rally to block the new U.S. base construction in front of the gate of U.S. Camp Schwab which is located in Nago’s Henoko district.

Nago Mayor Inamine Susumu expressed his determination to continue to resist, saying, “A fight for democracy and local autonomy has spread from Okinawa to the mainland. We, Okinawans, are warriors at heart and will continue working to foil any attempt to build the new base in Henoko.”

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Akamine Seiken and other Okinawa-elected anti-base parliamentarians also gave speeches.

JCP Akamine said, “Let’s advance the opposition parties’ collaboration, drive the ruling coalition force into becoming a minority in the Diet, and win the cancellation of the base construction.”

The Supreme Court at the end of 2016 issued a ruling in favor of the Henoko base construction as promoted by the Abe government. With this court decision, the government on the previous day resumed the construction work which was suspended during the court battle.

Regarding the resumption of the Henoko construction work, Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi in his New Year speech to prefectural government staff said, “I’ll wield whatever authority I have to have the Henoko base construction abandoned.”

The governor cited accidents and crimes caused by the U.S. military in 2016 such as the Osprey crash on an Okinawa beach and the murder of a local woman by an ex-U.S. marine. Onaga pointed out, “Okinawans are haunted by anxieties about U.S. military-related accidents and crimes. The current situation falls far short of what the Abe government calls ‘a reduction in base burdens for Okinawans.’”

Past related articles:
> Supreme Court to approve controversial construction of US base in Henoko [December 13, 2016]
> Tokyo again sues Okinawa over Henoko base issue [July 23, 2016]