Nago City Assembly to ask US to examine construction of new base

May 14, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the morning of May 14, Nago City Assembly held an extraordinary session. Members unanimously resolved to ask Congress to examine the plan to relocate U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago. They want U.S. lawmakers to understand that the Okinawan people oppose the plan. Furthermore, the city assembly unanimously resolved to request the Ministry of Defense to increase transparency regarding the deliberations of the Japanese government’s environmental monitoring committee on the Henoko landfill. The assembly members also resolved to request the ministry to carry out a survey of the destruction of coral reefs in Oura Bay and the sea off Henoko.

The resolution referred to the fact the Japanese government has continued to carry out offshore construction work despite opponents of the plan winning all recent elections on the island, including the gubernatorial election. It claimed, “An agreement between the Japanese and U.S. governments to promote the Henoko relocation plan is a denial of democracy. The United States will become a nation which allows the destruction of nature if it continues to support this plan.” Criticizing the agreement, the assembly members asked the U.S. government and lawmakers to carry out an enquiry into the relocation and the situation in Okinawa generally.

The Nago City Assembly asked the Japanese government’s environmental monitoring committee on the Henoko landfill to disclose how its deliberations are made and requested immediate access to its conference minutes. They also asked the committee to conduct surveys in the sea off Henoko and Oura Bay and to report the findings to the assembly. The resolution documents aimed at the U.S. government and lawmakers will be translated into English and will also be sent to the U.S. Consulate General in Okinawa. The assembly members will hand over written opinions to the environmental monitoring committee and related agencies.

(English translation by T&CT)

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