As 2013 ended and 2014 has begun, Okinawa
witnessed two critical developments, and they are re-shaping the course of
Okinawa’s fight against the construction of a US military airbase in Henoko and
Oura Bay in northern Okinawa Island.
On December 27, 2013, under pressure from the Japanese government, Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima gave permission to the Okinawa Defense Bureau to reclaim land in Henoko and Oura Bay (see this Japan Times article) . While a complete turnaround from his previous position, the governor’s granting of permission now enables the Japanese government to move on to the phase of actual construction.
Meanwhile, on January 19, 2014 in Nago city, Mayor Susume Inamine, who has been staunchly opposing the base construction, soundly defeated his Tokyo-backed, pro-construction opponent in the mayoral election, securing his second term mayor-ship (see this Japan Times article).
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| New Year's Day Prayer at Henoko Mayor Susume Inamine and National Diet Member Keiko Itokazu pray for peace and Inamine's election victory |
In this complex and volatile situation, the
Japanese government appears determined to proceed with the construction plan,
dismissing the result of Nago election, even hinting at lawsuit and the use of
police force (see this Japan Times article).
However, many in Okinawa are also gearing up and taking actions
for what appears to be the final stage of Okinawa's fight against the base construction.
The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly has
adopted a resolution, calling for the governor’s resignation for his betrayal
of Okinawa’s voice (see this Ryukyu Shimpo article). Local citizens have filed lawsuits against the governor for
violating the land reclamation law in granting the permit (see this Ryukyu Shimpo article). Environmental groups
are collaborating with their international counterparts to challenge the
governor’s decision on scientific grounds (see this Okinawa Times article in Japanese). Okinawan politicians are flying over
to Washington and Tokyo, claiming that Okinawa opposes the base construction.
And, many are preparing for sit-ins and rallies.
International support for Okinawa’s fight, symbolized by the issuing of a statement by international scholars, activists and artists last month (see this Japan Times article), is getting stronger as well. The “dugong lawsuit” in San Francisco is also about to resume to
empower Okinawa’s fight.
It remains to be seen how the whole issue of the
base construction will unfold in the end. However, with drilling surveys for land reclamation scheduled to start in March, it appears certain that Henoko and
Oura Bay will soon become a site of confrontation AGAIN. International attention is needed!
Dear Walter,
返信削除Thank you for pointing out my spelling errors. I have corrected them. Yes, indeed, I meant resignation, not designation and claiming, not reclaiming. I guess I have written the words "reclamation" and "reclaiming land" way too many times. H.Y.