Japan Press Weekly

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2015 November 25 - December 1 [POLITICS]

Pro-US base lawmakers in Nago urge cities nationwide to support base construction

The Abe government is frantically pushing ahead with the construction of a new U.S. military base in Okinawa’s Nago City using the power of money and state authority. Amid this situation, pro-U.S. base members of the Nago City Assembly have requested other city assemblies across the country to adopt statements in favor of the construction, Akahata reported on November 27.

According to that report, 11 assemblypersons of Nago sent a sample statement and reference materials on November 11 to about 800 city assemblies throughout the nation. Miyagi Yasuhide, who is seen as a leader of those assembly members, said to Akahata, “We made this request on our own. It’s not at the direction of the central government.”

The Abe administration is continuing with the reclamation work at Nago’s Henoko coastal area by undermining the authority of Governor Onaga Takeshi while attempting to weaken public opposition by pouring state subsidies directly to the three local districts surrounding the construction site.

Nago City Mayor Inamine Susumu, who is working with Governor Onaga to block the project, condemned those assemblypersons’ action.

The city assembly’s vice chair, Nakamura Zenko, said, “I was surprised to receive lots of inquiries from legislators of other municipalities. I assume the 11 assembly members involved are acting in compliance with the national government’s instructions.”

Japanese Communist Party member of the Nago City Assembly Nakazato Katsuji also commented that their move may have something to do with the subsidies granted to the three wards in the city.

Past related article:
> Central gov’t sues Okinawa governor for resisting US base construction in Henoko [November 18, 2015]