Voices against Security Bills

The Special Committee on Security Legislation in the House of Representatives held a local hearing in Naha, Okinawa, on Monday. Three witnesses recommended by the opposite parties argued unequivocal opposition to the bills, while the two selected by leading party even expressed deep concern on them. Although it is obvious that those opinions will undemocratically be ignored by Shinzo Abe administration, consecutive criticisms against the bills are eroding political basis of Abe.

Local hearings are mandated for discussion over important bills in committees. However, there is no binding rule for the committee to implement the opinions in the hearing. While the leading parties agreed on having one in Okinawa for some reason, it is obvious that they preferred to make a progress in the routine process of the committee, even how critical opinions would be coming up from Okinawa.

The opposite parties chose firm opponents; Susumu Inamine, Mayor of Nago city where new U.S. Marine base is being built, and Masahide Ota, former Governor of Okinawa when relocation of Futenma Air Base was agreed on, and Tomokazu Takamine, former president of Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper.

Inamine warned that the risk of Okinawa being targeted would be raised by new security legislations. “It is not only me who thinks that Okinawa will become a battlefield again. The bills should immediately be withdrawn,” told Inamine. “Although security is important, Okinawa has been left as a sacrificed stone by mainland Japan,” told Ota, drawing hard experience of Okinawa before, during and after World War II.

Attitude of Liberal Democratic Party to Okinawa was another topic. On discriminative discussion against Okinawa by LDP young lawmakers, Takamine strongly criticized it. “I see a concept among people in Abe administration or some politicians that human rights are nothing under the requirement of national security. It is awful,” told Takamine.

Recommended by a leading party, Yoshitaka Nakayama, Mayor of Ishigaki city, within which Senkaku Islands are located, also expressed a concern that understanding on the security bills are not spread enough to the people. “Once collective self-defense rights are positively allowed, there is a possibility that Japan will be drawn in someone’s war. It is very dangerous,” told Keishun Koja, Mayor of Nanjo, who was also recommended by a leading party.

It is clear that Okinawa overwhelmingly opposes the security legislation. It is not an eccentric opinion in a region far away from Tokyo, but common notion of the public. Most people realizes that reinterpretation of the Constitution is a bad doping to be a macho country.