New Lawsuit from Okinawa

The Government of Okinawa filed a new lawsuit against the national government on Tuesday. Arguing that it is illegal for national government to continue the construction of new military base of United States Force in Henoko without allowance of the local government of Okinawa, Okinawa demands stopping the construction. Struggle between Okinawa and Japan has not settled with a decision of the Supreme Court last year, which was won by the national government.

The Supreme Court made a decision that the cancelation of former approval for landfill in Henoko by Okinawan government was illegal last December. Former Governor, Kazuhiro Nakaima, approved landfill in Henoko for construction of new U.S. base in 2013, overturning his campaign promise in 2010. Current Governor, Takeshi Onaga, canceled Nakaima’s decision, followed by overwhelming opinion of the people in Okinawa against new base. Onaga’s decision was, however, dismissed by the Supreme Court.

New lawsuit was next legal protest by Okinawa. Local law in Okinawa requires allowance of the Governor when someone breaks rocks of the seabed within a fishery area. The allowance for the national government has expired in March. Nevertheless, the national government continued the construction without new allowance of Okinawan government. Shinzo Abe administration argues that allowance from Okinawan government is not necessary, because the local fishery cooperative organization has abandoned its license for fishery there.

Okinawa protests against that reasoning. It argues that the license for fishery set in each sea area will not be defunct with abandonment of fishery cooperative and allowance of local government is still needed. Okinawa tries to stop the construction, which has been stepping forward beyond the points of no return. “One decision of the Supreme Court, which was approval for landfill, did not mean an approval for whole process of the construction,” told Governor Onaga.

Abe administration does not listen to the voices from Okinawa. “We will not change our standpoint that we will proceed the construction based on related laws,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga. Prime Minister Abe made a speech in a funeral of former Governor Masahide Ota, who led firm protest against national government for reducing U.S. military bases in Okinawa. “I will keep on doing my best for reducing the burden of military base, which you have been hoping so much,” told Abe. But, construction of new base in Henoko is increasing the burden on Okinawa, anyway.