Since time had expired and he was unable to give his speech at the UN General Discussion Forum, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki clearly explains its content on human rights and his opposition to discrimination to the press corps. (24se23)


Splendor of Okinawa: Cape leadwort, roadside Uruma, 31se23


(GENEVA) Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki visited Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the UN Human Rights Council. The total length of his UN visit ended on 21 September.


The governor had scheduled a speech at the General Discussion Forum held at the UN Human Rights Headquarters Meeting Hall. However, because the time for the meeting had expired, he was unable to give his speech.


So, in response to queries for the day’s reporting from the press, Governor Tamaki read the contents of the speech that he had been scheduled to make at the General Discussion Forum. 


The governor stated, “The very existence of the US Military bases is an infringement on the human rights of the people of my prefecture. They suppress our livelihood and threaten our peace!”


According to Governor Tamaki, at his scheduled speech, he would have pointed out, “These US Military bases were forcibly concentrated in Okinawa after the great battle there at the end of World War ll.”


The governor had further intended to claim, “78 years have passed since that war. Yet even now, 70% of US bases in Japan are concentrated on our tiny island”,  as well as note the crimes, the accidents, the roar of the aircraft, and the PFAS and other environmental pollutants emanating from the US Military bases. He added, “These all have a profound impact on the daily lives of the people of Okinawa Prefecture.”


In his speech, the governor had also intended to make clear his opposition to the the relocation of the U.S. Military Futenma Airfield from Ginowan to Henoko in Nago. He criticized the plan, stating, “Both the Japanese and US Governments came up with a plan to burden my prefecture’s people with a new base, by landfilling in our precious sea. However, this plan of theirs will come with considerable environmental destruction.” 


The governor also expressed the ideas that had been in his planned speech, “I was going to plead tenaciously for a solution to the human rights of the people of Okinawa Prefecture and our common problems, such as democracy and oppression to discrimination.”


On 18 September, Governor Tamaki had also spoken at the UN Human Rights Council session on the International Order. There he claimed, “The concentration of US Military bases in Okinawa threatens our peace!” He also clarified his opposition to the relocation of the base to Henoko in Nago. He had intended to speak again at the Hazardous Substances and Waste session, but was unable to, because its meeting time expired.


Governor Tamaki might brew controversy by inviting improper intervention from China and other foreign powers, hearing in his speech the difference between his and the Japanese Government’s plans on the issue of US Military bases.


In front of the press corps on 21 September, Governor Tamaki called his visit to the UN this time a, “Kick-off”. He expressed his wish to speak again at the UN in the future. Moreover, he stated, “I want to make plans for the creation of a relationship of trust between Okinawa and the Japanese Government through dialogue, certainly in a face to face meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.” The governor hopes for a discussion with the Prime Minister on such issues as the US Military base problem.


On the morning of 22 September, Governor Tamaki left Geneva, bound for Japan, as planned.


Original Japanese article: Sankei Shimbun, published Friday 22 September 2023 at 09:59. Byline: Kazumasa Bando. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/cae51fd0f5f25f8097c0270987e1654c0d4d8be5


Denny in the News: news about 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. 


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 my translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.


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.

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