Camp Schwab rally of 3,000 calls for “no” votes to land reclamation in prefectural referendum
On January 26 in front of a gate to Camp Schwab in Henoko, Nago City, citizens enthusiastically call for public opposition of Henoko base construction to be demonstrated at the prefectural referendum.
January 27, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
On January 26, a group opposing construction of the Henoko base held a kickoff rally in front of a gate to Camp Schwab.
This rally was held to address the prefectural referendum that will ask citizens for a “yes” or “no” answer to land reclamation as part of Henoko base construction. According to the organizer, the Prefectural Referendum Council Against the New Base, 3,000 people attended. The rally called for citizens across Okinawa to cast a “no” vote to land reclamation at the referendum on February 24.
Those gathered at the rally burned hot with fervor, repelling the cold. Aside from the placards against new base construction, there were also horizontal banners and other signs encouraging citizens to participate in the prefectural referendum.
Representative of the Council Against the New Base and former mayor of Nago City Susumu Inamine said, “Even if the vote mainly demonstrates ‘no’ Henoko base, the Japanese government will ignore it, and there are only the options of ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to demonstrate public opinion. Let’s again demonstrate our popular will opposing Henoko [construction] through the prefectural referendum on February 24.”
People across generations attended the rally, including youths who developed a signature collecting campaign, as well as parents and children.
Azusa Kayoda, 40, of Chatan Town and her daughter Haruka, 8, visited Henoko for the first time, together. Kayoda said, “Public opinion is rising, I hope it ends up stopping land reclamation.”
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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