Japan Press Weekly

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2011 February 2 - 8 [US FORCES]

State continues forcible construction of US helipads in Okinawa

In defiance of residents’ strong opposition, the Okinawa Defense Bureau is pressing on with the construction of U.S. helipads in the Takae district of Okinawa’s Higashi Village since the beginning of February.

On February 4 in front of the construction site called N4, Defense Bureau officials videotaped car license plates and the faces of residents and their supporters who were calling for the cancellation of the construction and negotiations. Using dozens of construction workers to close off the road, the bureau went ahead and carried out the construction work.

The Japanese government in 2009 filed a lawsuit against residents opposing the U.S. helipads construction claiming that they were blocking traffic. A lawyer representing the residents said, “We are now fighting in court. The court demands that the state engage in discussion with residents. The government should at least suspend the construction until the case is settled and discuss with the residents.”

Japanese Communist Party member of the Nago City Assembly Gushiken Toru said, “Construction workers, who are assembled for work early in the morning, complained about their low hourly wages. I want people across Japan to realize that the state is exploiting the workers, bringing local people undue stress with extremely early morning and late night construction, and destroying the natural environment without concern.”

A local woman said, “I want Okinawa Governor Nakaima to declare that the construction of a new U.S. facility will not be allowed at either Henoko or Takae.”

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Representatives of peace organizations and a women’s organization on February 7 made a representation to the Defense Ministry, calling for an immediate cancellation of the U.S. helipads construction in Takae of Higashi Village in Okinawa Prefecture.

Japan Peace Committee representative director Sato Mitsuo said, “It is unacceptable that the Defense Bureau is pushing forward with the construction in the midst of a situation in which both residents and the court call for a discussion in order to reach a just settlement.”

A Defense Ministry official replied, “We have the understanding of the prefecture and villages of Higasi and Kunigami regarding the construction. We’ve provided enough information to the residents.”

Nishikawa Kyoko, a representative of the New Japan Women’s Association, said, “Last December, strong winds caused by a U.S. military helicopter hovering overhead damaged a tent that was set up for the anti-helipad residents’ sit-in protest. This shows that their lives are being threatened.”