With about 1,200 participants, a citizens’ rally took place in the Ishikawa District of Uruma to request the abandonment of the plan to construct a GSDF training ground and ask, “Why would you build this in our quiet residential area?” (24mr24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Mandarin Orange, roadside Uruma, 10mr24


(URUMA) There’s a plan afoot to construct a Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF) Training Ground at the vacant site of a former golf course in the Ishikawa District of Uruma in Okinawa Prefecture.


17 groups, from within and outside the city, combined to form the ‘Association to Call for the Abandonment of the planned GSDF Training Ground’.


On 20 March, the association held the ‘Citizens’ Rally to Request the Abandonment of the Planned GSDF Training Ground’. According to the sponsors’ report, over 1,200 participated 


The rally adopted a resolution to the National Government and the Defense Ministry requesting the immediate abandonment of the plan. The association expects to make its request to the Government in the middle of this month,


Uruma Mayor Masato Nakamura stated, “Our city residents have conveyed to me their strong feelings in opposition to the construction of the training ground. Looking toward the reversion of the plan to a blank sheet, we’re all going to persevere, with our strength combined, until the end.”


Governor Denny Tamaki said in his message sent to the rally, in opposition to the Government, “Taking serious heed of the people’s will as shown you from the start, this project ought to be abandoned !”


Local residents, youth, and others took to the podium to plead, “Why would you build this in our quiet residential area?”, and, “The Government should abandon the very purchase of our land!”


The rally’s achievement in its resolution was, “We showed graphically how great the anger of our prefecture’s people is against this plan.” Moreover, the rally criticized, “We must say that this is a stupid scheme, absolutely devoid of the viewpoint of our residents!”

　

Defense Minister Minoru Kihara had declared, “We’ll consider how to use the site, after its purchase from the viewpoint of giving due regard in relations with the daily lives of the residents.”


In response, it was pointed out, “From another perspective, up till now, there’s never been any indication whatsoever to any high regard toward the daily lives of our residents!”


Moreover, whether progressive or  conservative, the popular will in Okinawa was to request the scheme ‘s abandonment. The people pled ,”No matter how much esteem we embrace in it,  shouldn’t the Government take the stance of  protecting the lives  and livelihood of our Nation’s people?”


It was reported that, as of 19 March, 5,580 signatures have been gathered. Because the site of the rally was filled to capacity, those unable to enter could view the event on a monitor in the building’s lobby.


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times, published Wednesday 20 March 2024 at 18:57.   https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/7aa1ec03d0766f824298c315121e6869b34a2553


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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