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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Government explanation is not convincing
Akahata editorial (excerpts)

Defense Agency Director General Nukaga Fukushiro and Nago Mayor Shimabukuro Yoshikazu on April 7 agreed on the plan to construct a new U.S. Marine Corps air base on the shoreline of U.S. Camp Schwab in Nago City, Okinawa.

However, at meetings held by Nago City, most district heads expressed opposition to the base construction plan, saying, "How can we persuade the residents to accept it?" In Ginoza Village, near Nago, district heads and local assembly members expressed dissatisfaction with the plan. Anger at the arbitrary plan is growing rapidly among the residents. (*)

(*) According to a survey conducted April 11-13 by Ryukyu Shimpo, 70 percent of respondents in Okinawa Prefecture and 86 percent of those in Nago City opposed the plan to construct the base on the shoreline of Nago.

Responding to local residents' apprehension about the stated assurance that no U.S. military planes will fly over residential areas, Defense Facilities Administration Agency Director General Kitahara Iwao just said that the government will "ask the U.S. government to understand local concerns based on this agreement" on the new air base plan (House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee meeting, April 12, 2006). He said nothing more than that because he was well aware that no agreement can be effective in regulating U.S. military activities in Japan.

Usually, U.S. aircraft make "low-pass" and "touch-and-go" exercises with the aim of improving skills to avoid accidents. How irresponsible it is for the government to not mention these exercises and just say that no U.S. military aircraft will fly over the residential areas!

We can't expect that U.S. helicopter exercises will take place only over the sea. Exercises around the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station show that U.S. helicopters make circular flights over the residential areas of Ginowan City. In no doubt, they will carry out circular flight training for looking for a landing point over the residential areas of Nago City by likening the area to a battleground.

The U.S. forces in Okinawa do not hesitate to break agreements with local authorities regarding regulating noise pollution caused by aircraft from U.S. Kadena and Futenma air bases. Despite the promise to "restrict" nighttime flights between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., U.S. aircraft/helicopters take off and land on bases in the middle of the night and early morning, disturbing local residents. But the Japanese government, which has always acted as dictated by U.S. forces, has never protested.

All this shows that the Japanese government statement that it will "coordinate" with the U.S. government to avoid adverse effects is just an empty promise for Okinawans.

Nago's new U.S. base will also cause serious damage to living conditions and the natural environment.

The Nago Fishermen's Union angrily claims that if the broad area of Oura Bay is carved out for the construction of the new base, the fishing-ground will be adversely affected.

The Nature Conservation Society of Japan calls for the new base plan to be reviewed because the plan will rob rare species of dugongs and sea turtles of food, and damage the ecosystem of coral reefs.
Nago citizens have repeatedly expressed opposition to the new U.S. base plan.

Contrary to the principle of local autonomy, Nago Mayor Shimabukuro Yoshikazu accepted the plan to construct a large permanent U.S. air base. It is natural for Nago citizens to be angry and protest against the plan.

The new air base, if constructed, will seriously affect not only Nago citizens but all residents of Okinawa. This is why we must stop the government from implementing the plan in disregard of public opinion.
-Akahata, April 15, 2006