Japan Press Weekly

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2012 February 1 - 7 [OKINAWA]

Defense bureau suspected of interfering with Ginowan mayoral election

The Okinawa Defense Bureau has allegedly interfered with the upcoming mayoral election in Okinawa’s Ginowan City, which will be fought over the issue of the “relocation” of the U.S. Futenma base the city presently hosts.

This was revealed by Japanese Communist Party representative Akamine Seiken at the January 31 House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting based on materials he obtained from an anonymous whistleblower.

Akamine showed two emails sent from the bureau’s general affairs division to its various departments. The email, dated January 4, instructed the departments to create a list of bureau staff and their relatives who reside in Ginowan and eligible to vote there.

The other email, sent on January 18, requested the departments to invite those on the list to “talks” held by defense chief Manabe Ro on January 23 and 24.

“Such an act clearly violates the legal requirement for state authorities to adopt a neutral and fair manner and not to abuse their official status in elections,” said Akamine.

Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko only stated that the government needs to verify the allegation first. Defense Minister Tanaka Naoki promised to look into the matter.

The Ginowan mayoral election will be held on February 12. The candidates are former Ginowan Mayor Iha Yoichi, calling for the Futemba base’s unconditional return and the withdrawal of the planned construction of a new U.S. base in Henoko, and Okinawa Prefectural Assembly member Sakima Atsushi, who is backed by the pro-U.S. base force of the former ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties.

After the committee meeting, defense official Kamata Akira acknowledged that the “talks” had actually taken place and stated that the defense minister has begun an investigation into the allegation.