Nov 16 (Mon): The U.S. Army took more than three months to approve a request for a drone flight. Trucks’ excessive loading requires examination in Shiokawa

Okinawa Times reported that the U.S. military took more than three months to respond to a request to use a drone to take pictures of the sea by the Camp Schwab. The newspaper filed the request on Aug 7, stating that the drone flight to be made on Sep 7 when the Revised Drone Regulations come into effect. However, the military’s approval came on the 13th of this month; they put the request on hold for more than three months.

The Revised Drone Regulations states that the drone has to be 300 meters away from the subject area and that the U.S. Army has to give prior permission. Before the Regulations became effective, media and civic organizations took the bird’s-eye view pictures to point out the flow of polluted water into the sea and other issues in their efforts to closely watch the Defense Bureau’s works. The revision intends to close “drone’s eyes” to keep Okinawan away from the new base construction issues. Okinawa Times also reported a similar request to Kadena Base received approval before the scheduled flight date. The Japanese government and U.S. Army have joined forces to hide the construction of the new military base.

(In front of Camp Schwab Gate)

Forty members of Naha Shimagurumi (Naha chapter of the Island-Wide Conference) participated in a sit-in protest. They sat down three times, and three times the gate opened.

A total of 179 trucks, including concrete mixer trucks, made the delivery.

The number of infected cases of COVID-19 is increasing rapidly again in mainland Japan, Okinawa prefecture, and among the U.S. military personnel stationed in Okinawa. The expected 3rd peak of the contagion is here now. The Japanese government’s economic support campaign, “Go-To Travel,” seems to be the apparent cause. Many protesters are taking advantage of the campaign to come here. We welcome an increase in the number of protesters, but we are worried if the protest might spread the contagion.Temporarily suspending the new base construction is the only solution for the Okinawa Defense Bureau to stop the contagion spread.

(Ryukyu Cement Awa Pier)

A group of 15 people protested at the entrance and exit of the pier grounds. Delivery of earth and sand was slow this week due to a lack of available empty vessels, but the number of ships is suddenly increasing.

However, we found only a few protesters could stop more than 30 trucks and caused a traffic jam on the national road.

The delivery work continued until about 8 p.m.

A total of 518 truckloads of earth and sand was added to the temporary storage area, and 950 truckloads were moved onto four cargo ships that departed from the harbor.

(Motobu Shiokawa Pier)

Fifteen members of Motobu Shimagurumi (Motobu chapter of the Island-Wide Conference) protested by slowly walking crisscross over the road. Many dump trucks got stuck within the pier grounds in the afternoon, and 20 riot police officers rushed from Awa.

The truck’s excessive loading of landfill soil presents a risk. Based on an expert opinion that many truckloads appear to go over the weight limit of 5 tons, we will request the prefectural government office to conduct an on-site examination. Loading over the weight limit lowers the costs of transportation. If it turns out to be an intentional deed, it is unlawful.

A total of 518 truckloads was transported onto four ships.