Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2015 September 16 - 29 [POLITICS]

Okinawan opposition legislators promise to fully support Gov. Onaga

Five opposition party Dietmembers elected from Okinawa, including Japanese Communist Party Akamine Seiken, on September 15 held a joint press conference in the Diet building to announce that they will fully support the Okinawa governor who recently declared his intent to retract the approval for the landfill work at Henoko, the planned construction site for another U.S. base.

They criticized the national government for resuming Henoko reclamation work in complete disregard of Okinawans’ strong opposition to the construction of a Henoko facility in Nago City as an alternative to the U.S. Futenma base located in Ginowan City. Endorsing the courageous decision made by Governor Onaga Takeshi, the five lawmakers expressed their determination to work together with as many Okinawans as possible so that they can put an end to the Henoko base issue.

JCP Akamine said, “The central government should immediately stop the project and should move to close and dismantle the Futenma base.”

The four other Okinawa parliamentarians are Itokazu Keiko (Okinawa Social Mass Party), Tamaki Denny (People’s Life Party), Teruya Kantoku (Social Democratic Party), and Nakasato Toshinobu (independent).

* * *

Okinawa Bar Association: local consent is essential

The Okinawa Bar Association on September 14 published a statement under the name of its president expressing “deep regret” over the resumption of Henoko landfill work by the central government.

In the statement, President Aharen Hikaru pointed out that “consent from local people and local municipalities is imperative” for the base construction because a military base will have a serious effect on the lives of local residents.

He stressed, “The government should refrain from continuing with the project without the consent of local residents.”

Past related article:
> Okinawa begins procedure to revoke approval for landfill in Henoko [September 15, 2015]