Japan Press Weekly

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2015 August 26 - September 1 [POLITICS]

Okinawa gov’t starts undersea environmental survey at US base construction site

The Okinawa Prefectural government on August 31 launched an undersea investigation as to environmental destruction in the Henoko coastal district where the Japanese government plans to construct a new U.S. military base. The purpose of the investigation is to check if the preparatory work for the construction caused damage to the precious marine environment outside the area where the state authorities are allowed to crush seafloor rocks.

In February, the prefectural authorities conducted another survey outside the no-entry area in the waters and found that some coral reefs were crushed by the huge concrete blocks which the Okinawa Defense Bureau sank there to fix floats and buoys designating the no-go zone. Since then, the local government has repeatedly requested the Japanese and U.S. authorities to allow it to enter the off-limits area and carry out an on-site investigation. On August 10, the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee finally accepted the request. The prefecture’s survey is to continue for ten days.

On the first day of the 10-day survey, 15 divers and prefectural government officials participated in the survey and the divers took photos around the concrete blocks. The prefectural authorities are going to enter the planned landfill site and make a closer investigation as well.

The chief of the fisheries section of the prefectural office told reporters that based on the results of the investigation, Governor Onaga Takeshi will decide whether to revoke the permission for landfill work which his predecessor had given to the central government.

A 73-year-old man, who has been participating in sit-in protests in front of the gate of U.S. Camp Schwab in Henoko, said, “The fact that it took so long for the local government to gain permission to conduct its investigation reveals the extent of the Abe government’s subservience to the United States.”

Past related articles:
> US refusal of Okinawa’s request for coral damage survey is ‘unreasonable: Governor Onaga [ March 13, 2015]
> Okinawa prefectural government investigates damage to coral reefs in Henoko [ February 27, 2015]