Japan Press Weekly

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2015 September 2 - 8 [POLITICS]

3,800 Okinawans rally to block restart of Henoko construction work

Seeking to prevent the Abe government from resuming the suspended preparatory work to construct a new U.S. base in Nago’s Henoko district, 3,800 people from across Okinawa Prefecture on September 5 assembled in front of the main gate of U.S. Camp Schwab.

The rally was hosted by an organizing committee consisting of five anti-base parliamentarians elected from Okinawa and prefectural assemblypersons supporting the governor as the one-month suspension period set by the Abe administration will expire on September 9.

At the rally, the five Dietmembers, including Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Akamine Seiken, Nago City Mayor Inamine Susumu, and co-leader of the anti-U.S. heliport council Ashitomi Hiroshi delivered speeches.

JCP Akamine said, “Our protest against the government-sponsored war bills and the construction of a new U.S. base is also a fight to bring down the dictatorial government headed by Prime Minister Abe.”

Anti-base activist Ashitomi said, “Today’s event will surely encourage Governor Onaga to go ahead with withdrawing his predecessor’s approval of the landfill project for the base construction.”

A-32-year old participant, who came from Naha City with her husband, said, “This is my first time to come to Henoko. I can’t stand the Abe government infringing on Okinawans’ rights under the pretext of national security.”

Also coming from Naha City with friends to join the rally, a 25-year-old woman said, “Restart the construction work? No way! I hope that Governor Onaga will boldly urge the Japanese and U.S. governments to give up on the new base at Henoko.”

Past related articles:
> Okinawans call on governor to revoke landfill approval for US base construction [August 18, 2015]
> Okinawans granted one-month suspension of Henoko construction work [August 5, 2015]