Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2015 March 11 - 17 [POLITICS]

Okinawans accuse the state of knowingly destroying coral reefs

A group of 18 Okinawans filed a complaint with the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office on March 13 against the defense authorities, claiming that the authorities are destroying coral reefs by dropping huge concrete blocks into the sea without obtaining permission from the prefectural government.

The complainants are 18 people, including lawyers, civic group members, and a city assemblyperson of the Japanese Communist Party. The Defense Ministry’s local bureau is sinking many concrete blocks off the Henoko coastal area in Nago City as part of the planned construction of a new U.S. military base.

The written accusation points to the fact that the defense bureau is installing the blocks outside the area which the former governor gave authorization for the state to reclaim for the base construction. It notes that the bureau’s acts violate Article 39 of the prefecture’s fisheries coordination rules.

The document also criticizes the defense authorities for continuing the work without responding to inquiries from the prefecture. “Their actions are extremely malicious and they should face criminal charges,” it emphasizes.

At a news conference after lodging the complaint, Ashitomi Hiroshi, co-head of the anti-U.S. heliport council, condemned the Abe government for resuming its boring survey in the waters in defiance of strong local opposition. He demanded that the government stop the work immediately.