Japan Press Weekly

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2015 January 14 - 20 [POLITICS]

Okinawans rally in protest against US helipads construction

In opposition to the construction of U.S. military helipads in Okinawa, 520 people held a rally on January 19 in Higashi Village in the southernmost prefecture.

Higashi Village, located in the north of the main island of Okinawa, has a population of about 150. The area is known for its beautiful natural environment, where a number of endangered species live.

Based on an agreement between Tokyo and Washington, Japan’s Okinawa Defense Bureau has been moving forward with a project to build six helipads for the U.S. military in the Takae district of the village. Two of the planned six landing strips were completed last summer.

Although the defense authorities were to start constructing the third one in July 2014, it has been hampered by local residents staging sit-ins near the site. The authorities are now trying to forcibly remove protesters from there and set up a prohibited entry zone with iron fences.

Japanese Communist Party member of the Higashi Village Assembly Isa Masatsugu said at the gathering, “If many people take part in the action like today, I’m sure we can stop the construction. Please keep supporting our struggle.” Isa has led the local protest campaign for years. He had run in the village assembly election three times, and finally won a seat on the assembly last September.

A 64-year-old woman from Naha City said, “I had nearly given up the struggle several times. But a series of victories in last year’s elections gave me renewed courage. I’ll continue to fight by joining hands with other people.”


Past related article:
> Okinawans march in protest against Osprey helipad construction [February 12, 2014]