Archive for the Politics Category

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Ministry of Environment says disclosure of Yambaru world heritage documents would damage relationship of trust with US military

November 2, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On November 1, it was learned that the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has decided not to disclose any documents detailing communications with the U.S. military from 2013 onward regarding the registration of Amami/Ryukyu as a world natural heritage site. The Amami/Ryukyu area that would be registered includes Yambaru National Park, which is adjacent to the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area. In response to an inquiry about the reason for its decision,...

 

Prefectural Assembly adopts resolution of protest against discriminatory remarks by riot police

Prefectural Assembly adopts resolution of protest against discriminatory remarks by riot police

October 28, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

In the morning on October 28 the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly opened an extraordinary session in response to the riot police at the protest sites for helipad construction in the Northern Training Area using terms such as dojin (aborigines) and shinajin (Sina...

Japan asks Supreme Court to dismiss Okinawa’s appeal against ruling made by Fukuoka High Court on Henoko lawsuit

Japan asks Supreme Court to dismiss Okinawa’s appeal against ruling made by Fukuoka High Court on Henoko lawsuit

October 28, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa prefectural government recently appealed the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court’s ruling that Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga’s cancellation of approval to reclaim land in Henoko, Nago City was “illegal.” The Japanese government submitted...

Onaga responds to riot police officer using discriminatory term for Okinawan protesters

Onaga responds to riot police officer using discriminatory term for Okinawan protesters

October 20, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

At an interview on October 19 at the Okinawa Prefectural Office, Governor Takeshi Onaga gave a comment in regards to the riot police officer who used “dojin,” a derogatory term for “aborigines,” to refer to Okinawan protesters. Onaga said, “The implication...

Crimes involving US servicemen violating criminal code in Okinawa accounts for 45 % of recorded crime in Japan

October 5, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

There are 34 cases in which U.S. military personnel were charged for violating the Japanese criminal code in Okinawa. The figures accounted for 45 percent of 76 cases nationwide. On October 4, Kiichiro Jahana, the head of the Executive Office of the Governor, announced...

Joint use of US training area by SDF for anti-guerilla exercises could entail burden increase

October 5, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On October 4, it was discovered that the Ministry of Defense (MOD) has a plan to conduct joint use of the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area as a training area for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to engage in anti-guerilla warfare training. The information...

Okinawa appeals ruling in Henoko lawsuit, says high court overstepped its authority

October 4, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Commentary by Ryota Shimabukuro

The Okinawa prefectural government has appealed a ruling made by the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court that ruled Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga’s cancellation of approval to reclaim land in Henoko, Nago City to be “illegal”....

Higashi Village’s Osprey and helicopter noise complaints in June outnumber those from last year

September 29, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Within June of this year, the number of noise complaints made to Higashi Village Office concerning MV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and helicopters reached about 60. On September 28, it was publicized that these June complaints outnumbered...

Prime Minister Abe greatly downplays amount of land needed for US military helipads in Takae

Prime Minister Abe greatly downplays amount of land needed for US military helipads in Takae

October 4, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Ministry of Defense made public at the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on October 3 that a 162.93-hectare portion of the Northern Training Area (in Higashi and Kunigami Villages), including the additionally provided Ukagawa area, will be developed...

Kunigami Village Council requests training areas be shut down following US Harrier crash

Kunigami Village Council requests training areas be shut down following US Harrier crash

September 27, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On September 22, a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II ground-attack aircraft that come from the U.S. training area Hotel Hotel crashed in the water 153 kilometers east of Cape Hedo, Kunigami Village. In response, the Kunigami Village Council (chaired by Toshimitsu...

1,500 people gather to protest against Henoko lawsuit

1,500 people gather to protest against Henoko lawsuit

September 21, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

In a lawsuit brought by the Japanese national government against the Okinawa prefectural government over Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga’s cancellation of a permit to reclaim land in Henoko, Nago City, the presiding judge ruled it illegal for the governor not...