Henoko protester arrested

Henoko protester arrested

Citizens protesting at Nago Police Station at 10:35 a.m. on March 3 against the arrest of man outside Camp Schwab.


March 31, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

A man has been arrested in front of the main gate at Camp Schwab in Henoko. It happened on the morning of March 31. He was part of a protest against construction work at the base and was arrested for obstructing officers in the course of their duty. He was taken to Nago Police Station.

The governments of Japan and the United States are in the process of building a replacement base for the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the Henoko district of Nago.

In the early morning, about 20 citizens staged a sit-in protest in an effort to prevent vehicles carrying Japan Coast Guard (JCG) officers and construction workers from entering the base. At one point, about 100 riot police officers scuffled with the protesters, resulting in the man’s arrest. He was detained in the base before being taken to Nago police station at around 8:50 a.m.

At 11 a.m. about 80 people gathered in front of the police station, calling the man’s arrest unjustified and demanding his release. They also said the police should stop harassing protesters.

In the sea off Henoko, workers employed by the Okinawa Defense Bureau continued work from two marine construction barges. Protesters took to the sea in 18 kayaks. Eight of them were removed by officers of the JCG.

(English translation by T&CT)

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