Okinawa Governor expresses his stance in fighting the proxy litigation, “I won’t give my approval!” (18 oc23)


Splendor of Okinawa: Wild Rose, roadside Uruma, 17oc23


The U.S. Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan is planned to be relocated to Henoko in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture. On 11 October, Governor Denny Tamaki held a press conference over the Government’s request for changes in the construction design to shore up the weak sea bed for the required Henoko construction. The governor made his position crystal clear, “I will not give my approval.” 


The governor further confirmed his intention of fighting the lawsuit that National Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito filed on 5 October at the Naha Branch of the Fukuoka High Court for proxy to make the approval on behalf of the Prefecture.

 

In 2021, Governor Tamaki refused to approve the request for the design changes, The Government took his refusal up to the Supreme Court and the Prefecture’s loss in the case was confirmed by a Supreme Court ruling in September of this year. Minister Saito, with his authority under the Public Waters and Landfills Law, designated 4 October as the deadline for the governor’s approval.


However, on the deadline day, Governor Tamaki stated, “It’s impossible to give my approval within their deadline.” He did not say exactly his reason for missing the deadline, but neither did he declare clearly whether or not he would give his approval.


On the other hand,  in his press conference of 11 October, Governor Tamaki spoke clearly, “I cannot submit to the aim of the Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Minister’s request to the Prefecture, ordering us to give approval!” The governor further expressed his intention to fight the Ministry’s execution by proxy.


The National Government claims that, unless the governor gives his approval, the dangers of Futenma Airfield cannot be removed,  and even the trust and alliance between the US and Japan will be adversely affected. The Government further claims, “It’s abundantly clear that the public good will be damaged.”


In response, Governor Tamaki made his case, stating, “The construction at Henoko will take 12 years. That doesn’t tally with getting rid of the danger of Futemma Airfield as soon as possible! It’s unreasonable to force this situation of base burdens, exceeding all limits of our patience, down on our prefecture’s people any further. There is a disconnect between what the Government calls the public good and what our prefecture’s people think is the public good.”


Original Japanese article: Mainichi Shimbun, published Wednesday 11 October 2023 at 21:41. Byline: Hiroshi Higa.  https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/aa6dda6e3b11047119ccedba3be0bb9084883456


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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