A memorial monument was built in the property of the former Uruma Citizens’ Art Theatre in order to commemorate a historical event in which Okinawans in Hawaii sent 550 pigs to Okinawa, in an attempt to aid people suffering food shortages in the post-WWII period. Residents and corporations donated approximately 7,800,000 yen to build the monument. The chairman of the “Pigs from the Sea” monument committee, Hidehiko Arakaki, made an announcement about the monument at a press conference held on February 22 at the prefectural government office.
A musical performance based on the history will be performed on March 5 and 6, and the unveiling ceremony for the monument will be held at the theatre from 4:30 p.m. on March 5.
Chairman Arakaki shared gratitude, “We were able to secure a budget for our forthcoming activities, such as establishing the monument, as well as providing educational materials for children, thanks to 258 donations. We used our familiar Katsuren travertine stone and designed a monument that helps to remember the history.”
Uruma City Mayor Toshio Shimabukuro also commented, “We would like to show the bond between Hawaii and Uchinanchu to future generations through the monument and the musical performance.” The unveiling ceremony will be held from 4:30 p.m. on March 5, in front of the Hibiki Hall.
For details about the monument, contact the Okinawa Prefectural Government Public Relations Office on 098 866 2020. The musical show will take place two times: one at 7 p.m. on March 5 and the other at 3 p.m. on March 6. For the details of the show, contact Uruma Citizens’ Art Theatre on 098 973 4400.
Gregory Kulacki, a senior analyst and the China Project manager for the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), took part on March 3 in a protest rally in front of Camp Schwab against the construction of a new offshore U.S. air base.
Kulacki who visited Okinawa to research the U.S. military base issues, stated that decisions on nuclear weapons and military bases are made by a small number of people. Kulacki insisted that although the people’s voices are ignored, it is important to keep raising them against the issues. He went on to explain how UCS has accomplished some success throughout its 40 year-history. Kulacki concluded by saying that it is important for Okinawan people to continue to oppose the new base construction.
At a regular meeting of the Nago City Council on March 2, Mayor Susumu Inamine declared his administrative policies for 2016. He said that no matter what happens, he resolves to make continued efforts to block relocation of Futenma Air Station to Henoko, Nago. In doing so he has demonstrated his persistence in opposing relocation.
Mayor Inamine described the security bill enactment as an indicator of impending crisis to the Japanese government’s political approach and the way democracy should function. Furthermore, Okinawa’s displeasure with the Japanese government hastening relocation of Futenma to Henoko and the issuing of subsidies to wards in the vicinity of the relocation site are examples of national-regional concerns. Inamine pointed out that these problems result from Japan’s democracy and local autonomy being shaken.
On the morning of March 5, over 80 people staged a sit-in protest and rally in front of Camp Schwab. Just one day before the rally, the government of Japan and the prefectural government of Okinawa reached a settlement for lawsuits filed over the plan to move U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago.
The participants renewed their resolve to unite, on a peaceful morning when no construction vehicle was seen entering the base and there was not exclusion by riot police. They said, “We will not bow to the government. Becoming single-minded, we will fight to win the relinquishment of the Henoko relocation plan.”
On this day, no ships were employed by the Okinawa Defense Bureau on the sea of Oura Bay, where the government was moving forward with the work that included a drilling survey to build a new U.S. airfield.
A citizens’ group sent a protest ship near to the planned construction site in order to watch any movements. A protester said, “The government should withdraw immediately everything for the work, including work ships, cranes, equipment, materials and buoys and an oil contamination prevention sheet placed on the sea.”
Protesters at the rally in front of the Camp Schwab gate stated that they had to exercise vigilance against the construction.
A protester said, “The government has gone ahead with construction work so far. We should block the construction vehicles to enter the base.” He added, “All things, including iron and barbed wire, should be removed from in front of the base. We demand the prefectural police officers and the private security company’s guards leave here.”
Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine took part in the sit-in- protest for about one hour from 10:00 a.m.
The mayor said, “The settlement was a compromise, but the future is unclear. Let’s continue fighting without losing our focus.”
He added, “We breathe easy because we could suspend the construction. At least the citizens, who have staged protest action from early morning every day, can have a peaceful morning. I have had heartache thinking about these people who are exposed to a hard situation physically and mentally every day.”
At 1 p.m. on March 4, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his intention to accept the court’s proposed settlement in the lawsuit his government brought against the Okinawa prefectural government over reclaiming land in Henoko, Nago as part of the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma. The prime minister told reporters in Tokyo that the government had decided to follow the court’s advice and would be suspending land reclamation work as part of its commitment to adhere to the terms of the settlement. This means a halt to the land reclamation work for which preparation is currently being carried out. However, Prime Minister Abe added that there is no change in the government’s position that relocation to Henoko is the only way to achieve the return of MCAS Futenma. The issue of Futenma’s return has remained unsettled for twenty years.
The same day, Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga, who was visiting Tokyo, stated at half past noon that due to the critical nature of the issue, he wanted more time to confirm the facts before making any comment. He added that he would clarify his view of the matter after attending a 3 p.m. meeting with Defense Minister Gen Nakatani to discuss the Okinawa base issue and promote conversion of land currently being used for military purposes.
Though Governor Onaga nullified the permit authorizing reclamation of land around Henoko, the nullification was invalidated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and the Okinawa Defense Bureau has been continuing with construction related to the project. In protest, the Okinawa prefectural government filed two lawsuits against the national government, arguing that the invalidation of the governor’s action was unlawful. By accepting the settlement proposal, the national government is withdrawing the MLITT’s order to invalidate the permit nullification, and construction will be suspended. Therefore, the Okinawa prefectural government is also expected to withdraw its two lawsuits.
During the proceedings in the lawsuit brought by the government against Okinawa, the court asked Governor Onaga if he intended to abide by the court’s ruling in the event that the national government were to win a suit verifying the illegality of the governor’s nullification of the land reclamation permit before the proxy execution of the land reclamation authorization took place. Governor Onaga stated that he would abide by the court’s ruling.
On February 29, Nago Mayor Susume Inamine gave witness testimony in the trial between the Japanese government and Okinawa prefectural government over the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. In a press conference held on March 1, Inamine commented, “As mayor, I gave testimony to the burden that residents are forced to bear. It was very meaningful to be able to attend the hearing.”
In regards to the Okinawa prefectural government and the Japanese government initiating negotiations for a settlement proposal, Inamine said, “It will be significant if the settlement proposal closely meets the needs of Okinawa.” Even if reconciliation is not reached, Inamine said, “I will hold strong to my commitment.” He remains adamant in preventing the construction of a new base in Henoko, Nago.
Members of the Nago City Assembly’s opposition party appealed to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga to have the subsidies for the realignment of U.S. forces paid directly to the respective districts, bypassing the city. Inamine rejected the idea as unrealistic, stating that “this is not something which can be [directly] handed to each district.”
The fifth hearing in the trial brought by the Japanese government against the Okinawa prefectural government over the construction of a new base in Henoko, Nago as part of the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma was held at the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court on February 29. At Gusukudake Park in front of the court, an organization, “All Okinawa Kaigi”, to prevent the construction of a new base in Henoko held a rally to protest against the new base construction before the hearing. According to the organizer, 1,500 people took part in the rally and pledged to prevent the new base construction.
Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine, who stood as a witness in the trial, said, “Seeing the situation from the local administrative perspective, the judge will surely understand how badly the Japanese government treats Okinawa.” The participants voiced support for the Okinawa governor Takeshi Onaga, asking him to demonstrate the Okinawan people’s will in the court.
The Central Environment Council approved an area expansion plan on February 23 for the Iriomote Ishigaki National Park to cover the whole area of Iriomote Island (29,000ha) in Yaeyama. The official announcement of the plan will be made in the related offices by the end of March. Iriomote Island is included in the area of Amami and Ryukyu that the government aims to designate as World Natural Heritage in 2018. By this expansion of the national park, the Ministry of Environment intends to enhance nature conservation.
The Ministry of Environment explains the reason for the expansion as “concern with overuse” due to an increase of tourists to the area. The ministry aims to protect the habitat of the crested serpent eagle and Iriomote wild cat by the expansion of the protection area. The current area for the Ishigaki National Park is 91,676ha (land area 21,958ha and ocean area 69,718ha), which will be expanded to 122,151ha (land area 40,654ha and ocean area 81,497ha).
On February 23, January 16 in the old lunar calendar, a new year memorial service for the dead, called “Juroku-nichi-sai”, was held in Okinawa.
Many families offered special meals and prayers to their family alters, in their homes or at graves, for the repose of their ancestors.
In the early morning, at Miegusuku near Naha Port, many families placed Jubako, or multi-tiered food boxes and flowers, and offered their prayers towards Miyako, Ishigaki, and other islands where their families came from.
Yuzuki Sueyoshi, 18, who took part in the memorial service for the first time, said, “I want to preserve the traditional culture to honor our ancestors.”
Local autonomy, democracy, and human rights are facing a dire situation.
At the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court, two trials have drawn to a close between the Japanese government and Okinawa prefecture over the permit to authorize land reclamation in Henoko as part of the construction of a new U.S. military base. We anticipate a verdict that respects local autonomy and legal principles.
Interpretation of the law, when applied to contemporary society, must contribute to the construction of a democratic society in which human rights are respected. That was the point emphasized most strongly by the representatives of Okinawa prefecture in their final testimony on the stand, and that is truly the essence of the issue. The court must not overlook this point.
In the “execution-by-proxy” lawsuit, the Japanese government claims that Governor Takeshi Onaga’s nullification of the land reclamation permit was illegal. The final proceedings focused on the two sides’ positions toward the two compromise proposals offered by the court.
While the Okinawa prefectural government responded positively to the “provisional” proposal, the Japanese government’s response was negative. The provisional proposal suggests that the Japanese government drop the lawsuit, suspend construction work, and enter back into talks with Okinawa.
The Local Autonomy Law indicates that when the national government clashes with a local government body over policy, the national government should first order the local government body to revise its action. If that fails to bring about a solution, the national government is to file a specific type of lawsuit asking the court to verify the illegality of the local government body’s action. This type of lawsuit is less forceful than the current execution-by-proxy lawsuit. However, in the current situation, the government has skipped over those steps and gone straight to the most forceful method available, attempting to wrest authority from the local leader. This is a blatant denial of local autonomy. The court must consider the significance of the government’s wholesale rejection of the “provisional solution” and acknowledge that the government’s forceful methods runs counter to legal principles.
The other proposal offered by the court, a “fundamental” solution, suggests that the Okinawa prefectural government retract the nullification of the land reclamation permit, while the Japanese government renegotiates with the U.S. to either place a 30 year time limit on use of the base or to convert it into a joint military-civilian airport after that time. It is out of the question for Okinawa to accept a proposal premised on construction of the base.
Suggesting that the Japanese government try to negotiate with the U.S. hardly constitutes a condition, since the U.S. would easily be able to reject any demands for a time limit or joint use of the base. It is only natural that the Okinawa prefectural government takes a negative stance toward this proposal.
Meanwhile, the national government has announced its intention to draw up a revised version of this “fundamental” proposal. Openness to revision may appear to imply flexibility, but is actually nothing but a rejection of the proposal offered by the court. It is misleading to act as though this represents any flexibility. If the compromise proposals are up for revision, the Okinawa prefectural government could just as well come up with its own revised proposal stipulating that the government negotiate with the U.S. not for a time limit or joint use condition, but to have the base relocated outside of Okinawa altogether.
The court must not mistake the government’s posturing as a sign of flexibility.
At the final hearing, Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine gave witness testimony. He described the injustice of Okinawa’s situation, having been forced to live with U.S. military bases for seventy years since the end of the war, and now seeing the construction of a new base that will reinforce the base presence in Okinawa for 100 years or more, prolonging Okinawa’s overwhelming burden of accidents and incidents that come with the base presence. He spoke for all Okinawans when he said, “I want us to be freed from a long legacy of being denied our human rights.” The court must take his words to heart.
It has been demonstrated once again that dangers from U.S. Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma cannot be removed without construction of a new base in Henoko, Nago.
Commander of U.S. Pacific Command Harry Harris expects the replacement facility to MCAS Futenma in Henoko to be completed no earlier than 2025. The U.S. Department of Defense is standing by its arrangement that USMCAS Futenma will be maintained until its substitute facility is complete.
This means that the dangers surrounding MCAS Futenma will continue for a minimum of nine more years. It is abundantly clear that the U.S. has no intention of complying with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s public commitment to cease operations on the base within five years.
Word from Commander Harris that plans for construction of the replacement facility are falling behind schedule is proof that relocation to Henoko is meeting with difficulties. The Abe administration should share this awareness.
Upon hearing about the statement by Commander Harris, Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani expressed that “if land reclamation and construction proceed favorably [the replacement facility] could be completed in five years.” He assured that, “It is possible Futenma will be restored [to Okinawa] in 2022.” The U.S. and Japan’s disagreement on the replacement facility’s completion period throws the issue into doubt.
In the event of Henoko relocation, MCAS Futenma will remain in its current location for an extended period of time and residents will be exposed to base-related hazards. Since Henoko relocation ultimately entails leaving Futenma as it stands for some time, the danger it poses will persist for some time as well.
Prime Minister Abe stated that, “The most important thing is to avoid letting [Futenma] stay in its current location, right in the middle of an urban area surrounded by houses and schools.” He noted that addressing the root of the issue means achieving the return of Futenma as soon as possible. To realize this goal swiftly, however, there is no choice but to abandon the option of relocation to Henoko. Abe should recognize the carelessness of his own words on these matters.
We cannot overlook the fact that the Abe administration has avoided properly explaining to the Okinawan people the promise that it made to the U.S. to allow the continued use of MCAS Futenma until the marines have been completely relocated. Far from explaining the truth, in its desire to get the land reclamation authorized, the Abe administration acquiesced to former governor Nakaima’s demand and promised to do its best to get operations at Futenma stopped within five years.
Around the time of the Ginowan City mayoral election the Abe administration made the public commitment to cease operations on Futenma within five years. Following this, the Abe-backed Atsushi Sakima was reelected as mayor. It is easy to understand many citizens’ expectations that the administration will shoulder responsibility and cease operations on Futenma by February 2019, within five years of its commitment.
Despite this assurance, the Abe administration has yet to request a cease of operations on Futenma within five years from the U.S. As such, the Abe administration has fooled the citizens who expected adherence to its public commitment. This is inexcusable.
Webcam(Kokusai Street)
