“Mainland” intellectuals to issue statement opposing “militarization” of Miyako and Ishigaki

“Mainland” intellectuals to issue statement opposing “militarization” of Miyako and Ishigaki

The planned deployment site for the Ground Self-Defense Forces in Hirae Omata, which includes about 23 hectares of Ishigaki municipal land, on March 1 in Ishigaki City (photographed by a drone)


December 4, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Thirty-two intellectuals, journalists and the like from outside Okinawa have decided to issue a collective statement in opposition to the deployment of Ground Self-Defense Forces in Miyako Island, Ishigaki Island and other outlying islands, and are currently gathering signatures.

The petition calling for signatures states, “The islands of Okinawa and Amami are being turned into a battlefield once more, and we ‘mainlander’ citizens must view this issue as one critical to our own survival; together we must rouse public opinion against militarization of this region.”

In a petition for signatures, former Self-Defense Force officer and military journalist Makoto Konishi explains that deployment of a missile unit on the Nansei Islands is underway, and criticizes this development, saying, “they are trying to turn it into a ‘missile battle testing grounds.’

” He points out that the construction of a U.S. military base in Henoko, Nago is a related development.

He describes Yonaguni Island and Ishigaki Island as “totally unarmed islands since the end of the war” and says, “military troops are unnecessary.”

The first wave of signatures will be gathered by the end of this year, and a second wave of signatures will be gathered on an ongoing basis.

People can sign on by email, mail or facsimile.

The mailing address is 1-12-10 Yamatocho, Nakano-ku, Tokyo. The email address is shakai@mail3.alpha-net.ne.jp. The facsimile number is 03-3310-6561.

(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)

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