Japan Press Weekly

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2015 September 16 - 29 [POLITICS]

Abe’s arrogant reactions to Onaga’s speech at UN human rights council is unacceptable

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi on September 21 at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in Switzerland delivered a speech regarding the construction of a new U.S. base which the Japanese government is moving forward with in the Henoko district in Okinawa’s Nago City. He stated that Okinawan peoples’ “right to self-determination” is being “neglected” and expressed his strong determination to “stop the new base construction using every possible and legitimate means.” Reacting to the Onaga statement, delegates of the Japanese government said that the Henoko base construction is the “only option” and again stated the government stance to press ahead with the construction project.

Onaga in his statement explained that U.S. military bases were built after WWII on Okinawans’ land which was taken away by force, not “provided willingly”. Pointing to the fact that 73.8% of U.S. bases in Japan exist in Okinawa which covers only 0.6% of Japan, Onaga said that criminal incidents, accidents, and environmental problems caused by the U.S. bases have affected seriously Okinawans’ daily lives over the long decades. He stressed that the locals’ “right to self-determination and human rights have been neglected.”

Meanwhile, Japanese government officials reiterated the failed argument that Tokyo in 1999 obtained the consent for the Henoko base construction from then Governor Inamine Keiichi and then Nago City Mayor Kishimoto Tateo and in 2013 “legally” received the approval of former Governor Nakaima Hirokazu for reclamation work off the Henoko district.

They also stated that the government is preferentially making efforts to reduce Okinawa’s base burdens. As an example of such efforts, they cited the return of a 51-hectare housing area at the U.S. Marine Corps Camp Foster in March. However, for Okinawa, this is an insulting exaggeration because the returned site accounts for only 0.2% of the 23,000 hectares U.S. base sites occupy the prefecture.

It is reported that after the council meeting, the Japanese delegates said that the Okinawa governor’s statement “ignores the facts” and thus it is impossible to gain understanding of the international community. However, it is the Japanese government that “ignores the facts”. This arrogant attitude is unacceptable.


Past related articles:
> Okinawa begins procedure to revoke approval for landfill in Henoko [September 15, 2015]
> Okinawans angry at outgoing governor’s approval of landfill project at Henoko [December 6, 2014]