To the top US commander in Okinawa, the duty to explain is yours; yours the origin of the widespread surge in Covid-19 cases on bases; yours the “Good Neighbor” claim that defies common sense. (11ja22)

At the end of last year I returned to Okinawa. The order had been handed down by the Japanese government that under no circumstances should the Omicron strain of Covid-19 that was causing the world to tremble get into Japan. Japanese citizens returning from abroad who tested positive at immigration had to be isolated after entering the country for 3 to 10 days at an accommodation decided by the quarantine station. During quarantine, there were health checks twice a day and the accommodation confirmed a response by video phone or app several times per day.  After confirmed negative results on the 3rd, 6th, and 10th days, the traveler was released.

 

The Japanese government explained to the US Military in Japan the coherent measures that were being taken. However, when a huge cluster occurred at year end, it was discovered that US military personnel were entering and leaving Japan freely without testing.


In Okinawa, the widespread infections on the bases were extensively covered in the media. However, for the important Tokyo TV companies, the big coverage went to McDonalds discontinuing Sales of L size French fries.


But the winds changed when Covid-19 surged at US bases such as Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Camp Fuji in Gotemba in Shizuoka, Sasebo in the city of Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture, Yokosuka in the city of Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture. Then the TV morning wide shows gave in-depth coverage day after day. 


Meanwhile, Gotemba in Shizuoka Prefecture received word on 31 December last year that, at the US Marine Camp Fuji, 10 Covid-19 cases had appeared. A letter was sent to the base commander requesting confinement to base. But, at the start of the new year on 4 January, the only order issued from that base just prohibited staying off-base overnight or using the interiors of off-base bars, clubs, and restaurants.Those were the restrictions used for “liberty” which governs going outside bases.


On the other hand, as of 7 January, the measures put in place at US bases in Okinawa, which far and away surpassed in numbers those infected at Camp Fuji, were relatively lax and merely prohibited use of interiors of bars, clubs, and restaurants off-base from 9 p.m to 5 a.m.


When I phoned the US Department of Defense to inquire about that discrepancy for this article, the response I got was that sharing detailed local information was up to the judgement of the local commander. But by a Japan US accord, restrictions were issued for entering or leaving bases from 10 January to 25 January for all US base facilities. However, “necessary essential activities” would be permitted. That means activities on or off base were not really limited at all.


On 21 December last year, Governor Denny Tamaki phoned the US Military top man in Okinawa administering its 4 commands, Major General James Bierman Jr. The governor made such requests as that movements of troops and their dependents be halted and that they be confined to base. He has not been able to confer face to face with Bierman so far.


According to what the Defense Department said, the local commander has discretionary power to handle local situations. For instance, after the outbreak of the Camp Hansen cluster, then and there, completely halting people from inside or outside from entering or leaving the base could have kept the contagion from getting out of the base, couldn’t it?


The US Military stresses that its troops are  Okinawa’s “GoodNeighbors.” If that were so, when danger visits Okinawa, shouldn’t they sit at the same table to discuss together how to deal with the problem? The US Military in Okinawa brought a virus that is spreading across America to Okinawa. Once again, ordinary life, which the Okinawan people  have so diligently endeavored to get back, has been stolen from them. Major General Bierman has an obligation to explain.


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times, published Tuesday 11 January 2022 at 08:46. Byline: Jundai Henna (=平安名純代?), special US correspondent 

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5684664eee51fd67dde9ba53e4d298187413f4b2


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. 

  2. Any suggestion on improving the translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.

  3. 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 gratefully appreciated.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In the suit over exercise of proxy in the case of the weak seabed at the new Henoko base, judgment to be handed down on 20 December. (4de23)

Image
Splendor of Okinawa: Shrubby Bush Clover, roadside Uruma, 30no23 The seabed at the new base construction site at Henoko in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, is weak and needs reinforcement. So, the Okinawa Defense Bureau requested permission for the necessary design changes, but Governor Denny Tamaki refused. In response, the Government intends to exercise proxy to give itself permission in place of the governor. The Naha Branch of the Fukuoka High Court announced on 29 November that it will hand down its judgment in the lawsuit filed over the case at 2 pm on 20 December. At the trial on 30 October, Governor Denny Tamaki emphasized in the first oral arguments, “We can in no way accept this exercise of proxy, which violates the autonomy and independence of Okinawa.”  He further stressed the will of the prefecture’s people in opposition to the new base construction as the ‘Public will’. In addition, he requested to show that the  path to resolution lay in dialogue. The trial was conclud...
Read more

Governor Denny receives the report on JUNGLIA at the 4 month mark after its opening. (7de25)

Image
Splendor of Okinawa: Temple Tree, Mihama Beach, 1de25 CEO Takeshi Kato of Japan Entertainment (JE), which manages JUNGLIA Okinawa, visited Governor Denny Tamaki at the Prefectural Office on 28 November.  　 The CEO reported on the 4 months since the attraction’s opening. He repeatedly brought up dealing with operational improvements and such based on the voices of visitors to the park.  　 The CEO specifically mentioned the evening concerts in the park’s garden and, starting from December, the free entry of one child with each adult, targeting the prefecture’s people. CEO Kato stated, “We’d like to be contributing to Okinawa’s tourism as well.” Governor Tamaki, alluding to his speech the same day, entitled “Declaration on Sustainable Tourism”, stated, “For the people, employees, and tourists of our prefecture, this is an important win-win format. We’d like to have JE’s cooperation in many, many more initiatives.” Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Sunday 30 Nov...
Read more

In Okinawa, Candidate Takara takes hold of the Henoko opposition parties as their new face, urging,”Let’s earnestly come to grips with these issues together.” (21jy25).

Image
Splendor of Okinawa: Mexican Petunia, Gushikawa RC Church, 13jy25. In the House of Councilors Election for the Okinawa Election District, independent candidate Sachika Takara (46), endorsed by All Okinawa, which opposes the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture, scored a victory. She defeated the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Party’s new candidate Ryo Okuma (38) in the election campaign.  Candidate Takara pledged before her supporters, “The Henoko problem is something our prefecture’s people have taken into our hearts. We’re going to earnestly come to grips with it together.”  With their eyes on a victory in next year’s gubernatorial election, her victory was a bitter blow to the LDP. Governor Denny Tamaki, who held the job of Candidate Takara’s campaign headquarters chief, stressed, “The will of the people in opposition to the relocation remains unshaken.” In recent mayoral elections, All Okinawa’s fortunes ha...
Read more