November 15, 2011
The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly on November 14 unanimously adopted a statement demanding that the central government jettison its plan to submit to the prefecture a final environment impact assessment regarding the construction of a new U.S. base in Henoko in Nago City.
Criticizing the national government’s move to release the assessment in order to carry forward with procedures to move the U.S. Futenma base to Henoko, the statement said that the national government, “ignores the consensus of Okinawan people, including leaders of all 41 municipalities in the prefecture and all prefectural assembly members.”
Japanese Communist Party member of the prefectural assembly Maeda Masaaki said, “It is significant that all political parties and groups in the assembly jointly oppose the central government’s harsh move which tramples over Okinawa people’s demand. In order to achieve cancellation of the new base construction plan and unconditional closure and removal of the Futenma base, we will make efforts to further increase people’s movements.”
Prefectural assembly members of the special committee on U.S. base issues will visit Tokyo on November 18 to make representations to the prime minister.
On November 12 at a summit meeting with the U.S. president held during an annual conference of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Hawaii, Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko informed President Obama of the plan to release the final environmental impact assessment before the end of the year.
Criticizing the national government’s move to release the assessment in order to carry forward with procedures to move the U.S. Futenma base to Henoko, the statement said that the national government, “ignores the consensus of Okinawan people, including leaders of all 41 municipalities in the prefecture and all prefectural assembly members.”
Japanese Communist Party member of the prefectural assembly Maeda Masaaki said, “It is significant that all political parties and groups in the assembly jointly oppose the central government’s harsh move which tramples over Okinawa people’s demand. In order to achieve cancellation of the new base construction plan and unconditional closure and removal of the Futenma base, we will make efforts to further increase people’s movements.”
Prefectural assembly members of the special committee on U.S. base issues will visit Tokyo on November 18 to make representations to the prime minister.
On November 12 at a summit meeting with the U.S. president held during an annual conference of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Hawaii, Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko informed President Obama of the plan to release the final environmental impact assessment before the end of the year.
