Japan Press Weekly

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2014 November 19 - 25 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Okinawa Governor-elect goes to Henoko to encourage sit-in protesters

Okinawa Governor-elect Onaga Takeshi on November 19, after receiving his certificate of election at the prefectural government office, went straight over to Henoko where protesters have continued to stage a sit-in action against the new base construction and expressed his solidarity with their movement.

Together with two members-elect who won in the by-elections for the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly with support from the Japanese Communist Party, the new governor visited the protesters’ tent site in front of the gate of U.S. Camp Schwab and shook hands with all 70 demonstrators in appreciation for their efforts.

He said, “During the election campaign, I promised I would work to halt the construction. And I won by a large margin of 100,000 votes. To realize this promise, I will convey the demands of Okianwans to both the Japanese and U.S. governments.”

He also said, “The two governments suggest that they won’t listen to us and will go on with the construction just ‘as planned’. I want to ask them what they think democracy really is. Let’s continue our fight together!”

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On this day, just three days after local voters chose the anti-base governor in the gubernatorial race, the Okinawa Defense Bureau resumed offshore work for the building of the new U.S. base which had been suspended for a while.

Past related articles:
> Anti-base candidate’s victory in Okinawa governor race delivers blow to Abe [November 17 and 18, 2014]
> Anti-US base forces secure majority in Okinawa Prefectural Assembly [November 18, 2014]