Prefectural protest of 700 people gathers by Camp Schwab calling for FRF construction to stop
Citizens protest in solidarity in Henoko, Nago City on June 1.
June 2, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
On June 1 there was a large prefectural protest against construction of the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF) in Henoko, Nago City, which met in front of the gate to Camp Schwab. About 700 people attended, affirming their solidarity in calling for base construction to stop.
Representative Hiroshi Ashitomi of the Helicopter Base Objection Association said, “Many of us Okinawans must come together at the site of the struggle.” He brought up that people across Japan are calling for Henoko construction to stop: “All-Okinawa’s fight has also spread to the mainland. Let’s concentrate the people’s power as one and tackle this problem.”
Speakers at the protest said things like, “We oppose military bases, which lead to war.” A canoe team is keeping up protest activities on the ocean, and calling for more such attendance on the water. One team member said, “Although this is becoming a long fight, let’s do our best.”
A group of six family members spanning three generations attended from Nakagusuku Village, including Yuta Arakaki, 27, who works as the manager of a company. He said: “The Okinawan people are proud of the beautiful ocean with its coral, and these should be left alone. The seawalls are still partial, so [these things] can still be recovered. Even though I have seen only a little [of what is happening] at the site, I want to convey it to others in my generation.”
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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