Japan Press Weekly

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2018 January 24 - 30 [US FORCES]

3,200 US marines and civilian employees will be concentrated in Henoko after completion of new base

About 3,200 U.S. marines and civilian employees will move from the U.S. Futenma base in Ginowan City to the new U.S. base if it is completed in the Henoko district in Nago City. When the number of U.S. military personnel increases, more crimes occur, Akahata reported on January 30.

Of the 3,200 U.S. military personnel, those who are unmarried will be stationed at U.S. Camp Schwab adjacent to the Henoko base site. Japan’s Defense Ministry is now constructing the barracks for unmarried servicemen on the premises of Camp Schwab.

It is a well-known fact that among crimes committed by U.S. military personnel, most of them are caused by single men. However, given that single soldiers are normally deployed to Okinawa from the U.S. mainland in six-month cycles, it is difficult to prevent crimes with just a use of a course on crime prevention.

Meanwhile, an internal document which the U.S. government compiled in 2008 revealed a plan to build family housing units in the area near the Henoko dam.

In the past, three Henoko residents were killed by U.S. soldiers. The relocation of U.S. military personnel, civilian employees, and their family members from the Futenma base will multiply local residents’ risk of becoming victims of U.S. military-related crimes and accidents.

In the ongoing February 4 Nago mayoral election campaign, a Liberal Democratic Party candidate who receives full support from the Abe administration avoids touching on the Henoko base issue while repeatedly claiming that he will apply his energy to giving children a bright future.

In contrast, Mayor Inamine Susumu is calling for the closure and removal of the Futenma base and opposing the construction of a new U.S. base. Only his victory will open a path toward a peaceful and safe future for Okinawans.