Local residents: Stop drilling survey for a new U.S. base

In Okinawa, citizens opposing the government plan to construct a new U.S. base in the prefecture on April 10 visited the Japanese Defense Agency's Naha Regional Defense Facilities Administration Bureau and demanded a halt to the drilling survey that started at the construction area.

The drilling survey started on April 8 without any notice to the Nago City Assembly.

The government is pushing ahead with a plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station, now located in Ginowan City, to the sea off Henoko District in Nago City. It told the residents of Henoko that a 15-year time limit would be imposed on the use of the new base, but now both the U.S. and the Japanese governments are refusing to accept the time limit. The offshore of Henoko is known for a major coral reef and a habitat for an endangered species of dugong.

A residents' representative said, "The drilling survey will damage the environment. The survey is like 'starting a train before all passengers are on board' because the 15-year time limit on the use of the new base is being shelved." (end)