Was it intimidation from an Assembly member? A staff member on one-month sick leave, Governor Tamaki again requests prevention measures. (19se21)

 A prefectural hospital office worker received an intimidating statement from LDP faction Assembly member Moriyuki Teruya, resulting in about one month of sick leave for mental and physical problems. At the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly meeting (Noboru Akamine, chairman) on 17 September, Governor Denny Tamaki and (hospital) Director Hitoshi Ganaha, while requesting renewal of Covid prevention measures, debated public documents submitted by Chairman Akamine.

Vice-Governor Kiichiro Jahana pointed out that Mr. Teruya’s words and deeds “amounted to power harassment.” However, the LDP side requested the establishment of a third party committee, claiming, among other things, the evidence was insufficient. Because the LDP treated the question as urgent, in an unusual response, the representatives’ questions scheduled for the day were put off until 21 September.


The document submitted to the Assembly on 15 September bore the title: “Concerning untoward acts against a prefectural worker by a prefectural assembly member.” During a regular June session of the Assembly on 6 July, in a telephone discussion with the prefectural assembly member, there was an intimidating statement. During that same session, the problem of a late reported cluster (of Covid victims) occuring at the Prefectural Central Hospital arose. Director Gahana pointed out, “The words and deeds were especially high-pressured.” Regarding the cluster at Central Hospital, he explained that Mr. Teruya made statements such as, “The delay in public reporting was your responsibility.” That resulted in the office worker having symptoms like palpitations, cold sweats, and sleeplessness. He received consultation at a psychiatric clinic. However, the LDP questioned the causal link between Mr.Teruya’s words and deeds and the office worker’s sick leave. Director Ganaha asserted, “I can’t help but mention the connection between his high-pressure words and deeds.” 


The LDP requested an investigation of Mr. Teruya, criticizing one-sided judgements. Mr. Teruya, claiming illness as a reason, skipped the Assembly meeting. As for setting up a third party committee, Chairman Akamine stated, “That request is on hold.” The governor clarified, “The treatment for any public official trying to exert their influence procedures” were decided in documents submitted to the Prefecture in June.


Although it was deleted before the Assembly, Morio Toma (of the unaffiliated group) made the criticism, “This can only be taken as a threat against the Assembly.” The Prefectural side said it was only making the new procedure known, and Vice-Governor Jahana  apologized, “for  any misunderstanding.”


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times, published Saturday 18 September 2021 at 08:11 by

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/fcb3c5fcf9950cc8a3c9182a979bbaa553aa7c06


Translator’s note:

Denny in the News: news about Okinawan Governor Denny Tamaki.

Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 

  1. This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. Any suggestion on improving the translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.

  2. Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be of great help.

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