Stand off between citizens and police officers at gate of Camp Schwab in Nago

Stand off between citizens and police officers at gate of Camp Schwab in Nago

At around 8:00 a.m. on July 25, in front of the first gate at U.S. Marine Corps Camp Schwab, a stand-off occurred between police officers and citizen group protesting against a new base construction.


July 25, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

An ongoing protest rally against the construction of an alternative base for U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Henoko, Nago started at the front of the first gate at Camp Schwab at about 6:00 a.m. on July 25.

Before citizens arrived at the first gate, police officers were standing on the sidewalk to prevent protest action. At the scene, a standoff between the police and citizens continues.

Hiroji Yamashiro, the director of the Okinawa Peace Movement Center, said, “We were trying to stage a sit-in-protest in front of the gate, but we were blocked by the police officers. We will continue our protest rally even though they are interfering with our activity.” The police set up elaborate security in front of the gate from early morning.

At 9:21 a.m. on July 25, on the bay surrounding Camp Schwab in Henoko, Nago, citizens riding in canoes were yelling in chorus, demanding workers stop the construction of the new base.


Meanwhile, at the beach facing Oura Bay within Camp Schwab, a land leveling operation which began on July 25 resumed at around 9:00 a.m. in order to install a pier. The ground levelling work appears to be almost completed. Construction workers brought six dynamo-electric generators to the scene for the next stage.
On the bay in front of Schwab, citizens riding in canoes raised their voices saying ”Stop the construction!”

(English translation by T&CT)

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