Japan Press Weekly

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2012 September 5 - 11 TOP3 [OKINAWA]

Futenma base is not so dangerous: US consul remarks

A U.S. consul general’s remark that the U.S. Futenma base is not too dangerous has provoked anger among Okinawans.

This comment was made by Alfred R. Magleby, who arrived in Okinawa as U.S. consul general in August, at a news conference on September 4.

Regarding the U.S. Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, whose closure or removal from Japan is demanded by most Okinawans, Magleby told reporters that the base is to some extent dangerous for residents near the base, but not unacceptably dangerous. Though former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Henry Rumsfeld recognized the base as the “most dangerous in the world” for local residents, the consul said he questions if this statement was really made and disagrees with such an assertion.

The Futenma base is located in the middle of a densely populated area in Ginowan City. Magleby said that it seems strange that many local people have chosen to live around the base.

Many turtleback-shaped tombs called “Kameko-baka”, which are unique to Okinawa, are in the southern part of the base. According to a map edited by the authorities of Okinawa Prefecture and Ginowan City, there used to be 620 residential lots and 542 grave lots within the base area before the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. It proves beyond any doubt that the U.S. Forces forcibly took the land from the local people.

Concerning the fact that a lot of Okinawans are strongly opposing the U.S. Forces’ plan to deploy the Ospreys to Futenma, the consul said that people will have no objection to the deployment if the base is relocated to Henoko district in Okinawa’s Nago City, and expressed his hope for the transfer to be realized as soon as possible.

Japanese Communist Party member of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Maeda Masaaki said, “The consul general’s comment shows his arrogant attitude as occupier and totally disregards the history of Okinawa in which the U.S. Forces seized land from residents with the use of ‘bayonets and bulldozers’. We protest the appointment of the consul and demand his removal from the post.”

The Okinawa United Action Liaison Council (Toitsuren) on September 5 submitted to the consulate general a protest note against Magleby’s insensitive and arrogant remarks.

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Six Dietmembers representing Okinawa, including JCP Representative Akamine Seiken, visited the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo on September 7, demanding the immediate dismissal of the consul.

Delegates of the JCP Okinawa prefectural committee called on the prefectural office on the same day, demanding that Okinawa Governor Nakaima Hirokazu request the consul general to retract his statement, apologize to Okinawans, and resign immediately.