Governor Onaga leaves behind the words, “When Uchinanchu fight with one heart, it becomes a thing of great power,” for Okinawan protest opposing land filling in Henoko

Governor Onaga leaves behind the words, “When Uchinanchu fight with one heart, it becomes a thing of great power,” for Okinawan protest opposing land filling in Henoko

Okinawans gathering for the “August 11 Okinawa convention to forbid land filling, and to demand protection for Dugong and coral and for the cancellation of new base facilities in Henoko” – August 11 at Onoyama Park in Naha


August 11, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition

 

The “August 11 Okinawa convention to forbid land filling, and to demand protection for Dugong and coral and for the cancellation of new base facilities in Henoko,” (hosted by the All Okinawa committee to prevent new base construction at Henoko), which, as the name suggests, aims to stop land filling activity in Henoko Bay as part of the relocation of MCAS Futenma, opened the morning of August 11 at Onoyama Park in Naha.

The hosts announced that around 70,000 people attended.

 

The event, which aimed to bring together 30,000 people, took on additional meaning with the sudden passing of Okinawa governor Takeshi Onaga August 8, and when the event grounds opened at 10:00 a.m., a mass of people came in one after the other.

Participants carried signs with messages such as, “Okinawans will not give up,” showing their support for Governor Onaga’s revocation of approval for the land filling.

 

At the event, in response to the notification given by the Okinawa Defense Bureau (ODB) to Okinawa Prefecture stating that land filling at the tip of Henoko will start August 17, a resolution was adopted demanding the cancellation of the construction plan, stating, “Trampling over the will of the Okinawan people, the illegal construction that will lead to environmental damage continues by force.”

 

The participants donned both blue colors symbolizing the sea and air of Henoko, as well as black arm bands and ribbons to mourn the loss of governor Onaga.

There was a minute of silence observed, and a confirmation of Okinawa’s intent to continue Governor Onaga’s fight to stop new base construction, a campaign promise Onaga pursued right up until the very end.

 

Governor Onaga’s son and Naha City councilor Yuji Onaga spoke at the event, sharing a number of things the governor said throughout his life including, “Okinawa is a series of trials and tribulations. However, we have continued to fight without ever throwing away our pride as Uchinanchu. When Uchinanchu fight with one heart, it becomes something more powerful than you can imagine.”

He then made a plea to the crowd, saying, “Everyone, let’s do everything we can so that we can report to Takeshi Onaga that we were able to stop the new base construction at Henoko.”

 

Vice-governor Kiichiro Jahana, who attended as the representative from the Okinawa gubernatorial office, touched on Governor Onaga’s unrelenting resolve to revoke approval for land filling even while in the hospital, stressing, “It was his great regret that he fell to illness before his work could be finished, right at the time when the battle was beginning to heat up.

Having heard his wishes, I will continue to put all my energy into stopping the construction.

” Furthermore, regarding the revocation, Jahana resolved, “A hearing is being coordinated. Understanding the governor’s passion for stopping the construction at Henoko as part of being entrusted by all of us to run the prefectural government, I have decided to stand firm and continue his work.”

 

Naha mayor Mikiko Shiroma, shared with the crowd that she was in the same class in High School as Governor Onaga, continuing, “He told me about all of the strong feelings he had for his Okinawa. His feelings for Okinawa never wavered. He lived with the Uchinanchu heart held close, and acted as if he were the embodiment of the Uchinanchu heart. Unfortunately he could not see this through to the end, but all of us have been entrusted with carrying on for him.”

She added, “I think it is unfortunate that just as he was reaching the finish line of the revocation, he was unable to cross the finish line. I would like for all of us to continue his work in whatever way we can.”

 

On the stage, a seat for Governor Onaga was prepared, and on it was placed the blue hat he was planning on wearing at the event. The protest resolution, which gives a boost to Okinawa’s revocation, also stated, “We will continue to fight this absurdity for the sake of the lives and livelihoods of Okinawans, the autonomy of Okinawa, Japanese democracy, and peace.”

 

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

 

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