In the case of the Henoko dump truck accident, the Defense Bureau issues an unusual request addressed to Governor Tamaki, “Obstructive actions are also a danger to security guards.” (16au24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Hellenia, Gushikawa RC Church 11au24


A security guard died while restraining a woman protesting the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture.


On 15 August, the Defense Ministry’s Okinawa Defense Bureau issued a letter of request addressed to Governor Denny Tamaki asking him to carry out cautions and notifications to “obstructionists” and to take safety measures such as the installation of a guardrail. Such a request by the Defense Bureau is extremely unusual.


Nearby the port, where soil is unloaded, members of citizen groups carrying placards continue their protest activity of walking ever so slowly across the crosswalk in front of the dump trucks, in their “cow walk” strategy to delay the delivery of the soil.


The letter of request about the accident claimed, “Heedless of restraints by the security guards, protestors went out into the road in front of trucks in the process of trying to make a left turn. Because of this,  a situation occurred where a security guard, who continued his restraint, ended up dying.”


The letter further pointed out, “This situation is of great importance and these obstructive actions have led to danger even to our security guards 


The contractors who use this port and bay have time and again made requests to the prefecture, noting, “We’d like to have a guardrail installed, so that the protesters won’t get involved in accidents.”


Governor Denny Tamaki is well aware of the problem. However, the Prefecture claims, “The guardrail would end up restricting pedestrian passage.” Thus, it has judged that it cannot accept the guardrail. 


The letter of request strongly stressed, “The Prefecture’s measures are obviously inadequate,  since the obstructive actions have continued.”


The letter further noted that the Prefecture is the manager of roads and port facilities, and requested that, as such, it speedily formulate possible steps.


Original Japanese article: Sankei Shimbun, published Thursday 15 August 2024 at 17:45.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/49d6f45dab5f7aa8c30e477a390127c9c74afedd


Denny in the News:


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.


(I increased the font size from 14 to 16 point to aid those with weakened eyesight, like mine.)

 

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