June 17 (Wed.): Approval rate of Abe administration sharply drops, 61% against Henoko base; 926 truckloads of landfill soil shipped from Awa and Shiokawa

As the criticism on corruption and poor governance increase, the Abe administration closed the current Diet session as scheduled. It is easy to speculate that the administration got worried if it can weathered out severe inquiries from the opposing parties when the current session were extended.
According to an opinion poll conducted by a nation-wide base newspaper, approval for the prime minister sharply dropped, roughly from 40% down to 20% (27-29%). The drop was bigger in Okinawa prefecture, down to 19%, and it was the lowest ever since the beginning of the current Abe administration. Furthermore, the poll revealed that 61% was against the construction of the new base in Henoko, which indicates Okinawans’ strong and firm opposition.

(In front of Camp Schwab Gate)
Concern over the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly decreased the number of protest-rally participants from outside the prefecture. Around 40 Okinawans gathered to protest. At 9 o’clock in the morning, 117 trucks loaded with earth and sand lined up on the national highway. It is not often recently that so many trucks were put to work at one time. It shows the impatience of the Okinawa Defense Bureau that wants to hurry with the construction work. While bearing with the heat wave, songs cheered up the protestors. At noon and 3 o’clock in the afternoon, additional deliveries were made, and a total of 262 truckloads were brought into the base.

(Ryukyu Cement Awa Pier)
Approximately 30 people were divided to protest at the entrance and the exit of the pier. Eight members of GoGo Drive obstructed the dump trucks by driving slowly around. In order to bring in landfill soil without delay, a larger number of riot policemen was called in to remove the citizens. At sea, 7 members of the canoe team surrounded and followed a cargo ship, and raised their voices in protest. From a boat of Japan Coast Guard, a loud warning sound was emitted repeatedly in every several minutes, which was so loud that it reached up to 106.9 decibel. That was also an explicit sign of the impatience of the Okinawa Defense Bureau.

(Motobu Shiokawa Pier)
There was a protest action with 5 members of Shimagurumi of Motobu Town. There seemed to be only few empty boats available, because the transport of earth and soil went unusually slow. The work continued at a leisure pace in the unbearable heat. The day before, 285 truckloads were delivered, this day only 125.