Japan Press Weekly

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2011 May 18 - 24 [US FORCES]

US Army constructs a coastal barrier without Japan’s consent

Japanese Communist Party representative Akamine Seiken at a Lower House Committee on Foreign Affairs meeting on May 20 demanded that the government urge the U.S. Army to promptly remove a stone-lined barrier at a cove in a U.S.-held site in Okinawa.

The U.S. military in late April built the 100-meter-long coastal stonewall without previous notice to the local municipal government and residents.

Japan’s domestic laws are not applicable to the coast along the U.S. Army Garrison Torii Station in Yomitan Village in Okinawa because it is regarded as a U.S. military possession. Therefore, U.S. forces conduct construction work in Japan without the need to obtain permission.

Akamine argued that the area is a good fishing ground, and that local fishermen are concerned about the change in tidal movement and a decline in fish catches.

He also pointed out that according to a Japan-U.S. memorandum, known as the “5.15 memo,” setting the conditions for the use of U.S. military bases when Okinawa was restored to Japan in 1972, any building structure is not allowed to be constructed in waters Japan provides to the U.S. Torii base.

Vice-Minister of the Defense Matsumoto Daisuke replied, “I don’t have the document at hand.”

Akamine said, “It is surprising to know that the base provider does not know what the 5.15 memo says,” and again demanded the removal of the barrier from the coast.