Miyakojima residents’ association members call on Defense Bureau to stop SDF missile base deployment

Miyakojima residents’ association members call on Defense Bureau to stop SDF missile base deployment

Members of the Miyakojima Residents’ Liaison Association Against the Missile Base submit their petition to the Okinawa Defense Bureau


August 27, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 26, association representative Seihan Nakazato and other members of the Miyakojima Residents’ Liaison Association Against the Missile Base visited the Okinawa prefectural office and the Okinawa Defense Bureau with a list of demands including cancellation of the deployment of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) in Miyakojima, removal of storage vaults in JGSDF Camp Miyakojima, and an information session for residents regarding construction work for a munitions storage facility in the Bora mine zone (in Gusukube, Miyakojima) planned to start in October.

In the evening of the same day, a “rally in solidarity with opposition to SDF militarization in Miyako, Ishigaki, and Yonaguni” was held at the Urasoe Community Center, and there participants from each of the islands discussed the current situation in their respective hometowns.

When asked about the soft ground and existence of cavities in the ground under the fuel facility in Miyako, a member of the Okinawa Defense Bureau explained, “We have confirmed that the required support strength is there, so we have not performed any ground improvement.” Members of the association responded with doubts about the safety of the situation.

Meanwhile, at the prefectural office, Executive Office of the Governor head Takekuni Ikeda met with the association members and told them, “I will convey your demands to the governor.” He then explained the position of the prefectural government: “We will not accept forceful deployment that will fuel divisions in a region where various perspectives exist and there is no consensus among the residents.

We intend to call on the national government to engage in dialogue with the residents and provide a thorough explanation.”

(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)

Go To Japanese


　


Previous Article:
Next Article:

[Similar Articles]