Ignoring governor’s order to stop work, Japanese Government continues seabed boring in Henoko

Ignoring governor’s order to stop work, Japanese Government continues seabed boring in Henoko

Protesters scuffled with riot police when they were trying to stop the Okinawa Defense Bureau's vehicle in front of the Camp Schwab gate at 8:25 on March 24.


March 24, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Defense Bureau is continuing its boring survey as part of the plan to build a replacement facility for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Henoko, Nago. On March 24, off the coast of Henoko, workers employed by the bureau were carrying out work from two spud barges. On March 23, Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga ordered the Japanese Government to halt offshore construction activity, including the marine boring survey, by March 30. Ignoring the governor’s authority, the defense bureau continued the work on March 24.

In front of Camp Schwab gate, citizens raised their voices: “Stop construction,” “We will never allow the work to be carried out forcibly.” A scuffle broke out between riot police and protesters who surrounded a defense bureau’s vehicle that exited the gate. On the sea, the citizen protested against the construction work from ships and canoes.

Hiroji Yamashiro, the director of the Okinawa Peace Movement Center, said, “If the Japanese Government continues offshore work after March 30, we will request that the Okinawa Prefectural Government forces the Japanese Government to stop its work, using the governor’s authority to call out the prefecture police officers.”

(English translation by T&CT)

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