Growing Frustration in Okinawa

Politics in Okinawa had another showdown on Sunday. In the election of Okinawa Prefectural Congress, supporters for Governor Takeshi Onaga achieved simple majority, increasing their seats from pre-election situation. It meant that the people in Okinawa were firmly against the relocation plan of United States Futenma Marine Airbase to Henoko and, further seriously, existence of U.S. bases in Okinawa.

The congress has 48 seats. Supporters for Onaga consists with Japan Communist Party, Social Democratic Party, Okinawa Social Public Party and the independents. Those leading powers achieved 28 seats, accumulating 5 seats. The opposite parties, Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito and Osaka Restoration Party, got 20 seats, reducing 3 seats. There are 2 empty seats. Since Komeito has been opposing the relocation plan, Henoko protesters occupy two-third majority, 32 seats, in the congress. “It’s a victory. My policies were approved. I will continue it,” told Onaga to the press.

It is obvious that endless crimes produced by U.S. military affected the election. A worker for U.S. Kadena Air Base was arrested with suspicion of abandoning corpse of a young woman, also doubtful for raping and murdering her, last month. Okinawa got as furious as the congress passed a resolution demanding retreat of U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa. Some candidates appealed closing all U.S. bases in Okinawa.

Nevertheless, crime was not eliminated. A female Navy sailor was arrested with suspicion of drunk-driving on the election day. She hit two cars on the opposite lane, not being able to stay in left side of the road, and injured two people. Police detected alcohol in her breath six times higher than legal limitation. She admitted that she drank in her friend’s home and drove the car then after. Although U.S. Force prohibited the personnel drinking or night stay outside the bases after the incident last month, the car accident proved that American military was not serious about the situation as the people in Okinawa expected.

Japanese government immediately sent objection against U.S. government, as it had always been doing. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fumio Kishida, expressed “extreme regret” to U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy. “I will require each of U.S. military personnel to have firm self-awareness and abide by Japanese laws,” told Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani.

Those actions do not ease the resentment of Okinawa. Growing number of the people in Okinawa realize that those kind of crimes will not be eliminated as long as U.S. bases remain there. The base issue is getting hard to be settled only with the discussion over relocation of Futenma Air Base.