Japan Press Weekly

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2015 November 4 - 10 [POLITICS]

Okinawa files complaint against land minister’s decision on Henoko base construction

The Okinawa prefectural government on November 3 filed with the Central and Local Government Dispute Management Council a complaint against the land minister’s decision overruling the Okinawa governor’s revocation of the approved landfill work at Henoko.

The prefectural government took the next step to put a stop to the Henoko reclamation work which already recommenced following the minister’s decision by turning to a third party panel and filing an official complaint.

The five-member council is a third-party panel set up within the Internal Affairs Ministry to handle disputes caused by the national government’s involvement in local affairs. It will pronounce a judgement on the Okinawa complaint within 90 days. If the third-party council rules against Okinawa, the prefecture will enter a lawsuit aiming to restore the validity of the governor’s revocation decision.

In the written complaint, the prefecture insists that the decision made by the land minister, a member of the pro-base construction Cabinet, is illegal.

In a press conference held on the same day at the prefectural office building, Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi explained the significance of the official complaint, saying, “To indicate Okinawans’ firm opposition at every stage in this fight will contribute to protecting democracy in Japan.”

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Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi on November 2 issued to the Okinawa Defense Bureau an administrative direction to suspend the reclamation work and negotiate with the prefecture.

In December 2013 when then Governor Nakaima Hirokazu approved the bureau’s application for the Henoko landfill work, the bureau promised to conduct negotiations with the prefectural government on various issues associated with the work, such as measures for environmental preservation.

Onaga in his direction claimed that the bureau should back to a conversation with the prefecture.

Past related articles:
> Henoko landfill work forcibly commenced [October 30, 2015]
> Central gov’t circumvents laws to undo Okinawa gov’s revocation of Henoko landfill permit [October 28, 2015]