Okinawa governor lobbies United Nations body over planned USA base move

The US and Japanese governments have agreed that the transfer of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station, now located in a congested area of Ginowan, to the Henoko coastal area in Nago, another Okinawa city, is “the only solution that addresses operational, political, financial and strategic concerns”, Kirby told a press briefing.

“I am determined to stop that new base construction using every possible and (legitimate) means”, he said.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Onaga faulted a lack of “transparency” from Japan’s government about whether it won’t stand up to the US or actually wants the base.

After the US occupation at the end of the Second World War, which saw the island remain under USA jurisdiction until 1972 upon which date it was returned to Japan, military bases were constructed on the island after land had been unlawfully seized from local citizens by USA forces. In terms of space, 74 percent of US bases are on the island, which has only 0.6 percent of Japan’s land.

“Can a country share values such as freedom, equality, human rights and democracy with other nations when that country cannot guarantee those values for its people?” The agreement was reached on the condition that a new base be built within the prefecture to relocate the Funtema facilities.

The Okinawa governor criticised the central government for ignoring local people’s will by pushing ahead with the relocation plan.

But Okinawans have since vehemently opposed the relocation within the prefecture.

“The construction is scheduled for the next 10 years and during that period there are a number of authorizations that the Okinawa governor, and also the mayor of Nago, need to issue”, he said, referring to a town near Henoko. In the Lower House election in December, all the candidates opposing the Henoko project were elected in all four electoral districts in the prefecture.

It was the first time a prefectural governor from Japan gave a speech at the UN Human Rights Council.

Kaji said the central government has been implementing the plan based on relevant laws and approval given by the previous Okinawa governor.

Washington, too, was quick to respond, acknowledging that Okinawa endures a burden in hosting USA troops.