Citizens stage sit-in and canoe protests as K8 seawall construction continues in Henoko

Citizens stage sit-in and canoe protests as K8 seawall construction continues in Henoko

On April 2 citizens take canoes out in the vicinity of the K8 seawall in the ocean off Camp Schwab in Henoko, Nago City.


April 2, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

As part of construction of the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF) in Henoko, Nago City, the Okinawa Defense Bureau’s construction of the K8 seawall off the shore of Camp Schwab is ongoing as of April 2.

Soil has been deposited into land reclamation sections 2 and 2-1.

Seven canoes went out on Henoko Bay in the vicinity of the K8 seawall to protest its construction. One of the canoe protestors, Noboru Takeno, 71, of Shizuoka Prefecture, criticized the Japanese government for forcing through construction of the FRF in Okinawa.

Takeno said, “The construction only discriminates against Okinawa. As a human of the mainland I cannot allow it.”

Akutagawa Prize-winning author Shun Medoruma, 58, explained why he continues to protest. He said, “It gets worse the longer construction doesn’t stop, so I will protest diligently. No one is doing it because they enjoy it.”

Citizens staged a sit-in protest in front of a Camp Schwab gate as trucks came through the gate at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. hauling materials.

(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)

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