Nov 27 (Fri): A U.S. think-tank predicts, “The completion of a new base unlikely.” The riot police’s control at Awa relaxed.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a U.S. think-tank, published a report in November on a new base in Henoko that drew our attention. The report describes the new base’s construction as “this project continues to have difficulties, with the completion date pushed out again to 2030, and the price skyrocketing.” It concludes that “It appears unlikely that this will ever be completed.” The author of the report is Mark F. Cancian, Senior Adviser of the institute and a well-known researcher/critic on the Marine Corps.

The conclusion of doubt in completion seems to be led based on the significant delay of the construction due to the discovery of soft sea bed and the skyrocketed cost. Fumiaki Nozoe, associate professor at Okinawa International University, pointed out that even the U.S. considered the feasibility of constructing the new base relatively low. “The Japanese government has insisted that the new base will be the cornerstone of the US-Japan Alliance. But the actual position of U.S. seems far away from it,” he added. We wish this CSIS report could trigger some controversy on this issue in the U.S.

(In front of the Camp Schwab Gate)

Approximately 40 people, including the members of Naha Shimagurumi (Naha chapter of the Island-Wide Conference), did a sit-in. It has been more than four months since the new protest style has started to avoid physical contact with riot police and voluntarily move out. Although this change is inevitable under the COVID-19 pandemic, some people would feel this style short of power and won’t move when the riot police try to persuade the protester to move. It took more than 10 minutes until everyone finished to move away.

A total of 233 trucks brought in the construction materials.

(Ryukyu Cement Awa Pier)

Approximately 40 people, including the Okinawa Heiwa Shimin Renkarkukai (Okinawa Peace Forum) members, kept protesting toward the dump trucks at the entrance and the exit at the pier. Three days ago, we filed a claim to the Public Safety Commission that the language and behavior of Chief H of the riot police should be illegal. Probably because of this filing, Chief H showed up but did not instruct the troop, and the riot police’s control was relatively lukewarm today. The free and emancipated space for the protest, which we enjoyed until six months ago, came back.

Although we pointed out the illegality of Chief H’s behaviors, we have no idea what would happen. As long as he appears at the protest site, the strict traffic rules would be in place, although he might change his attitude and be more polite. We should monitor his behaviors and will protest whenever we find his problematic words and acts.

ne rubber boat and eight canoes stuck to a cargo ship at sea, which delayed the ship’s departure more than 30 minutes.

A total of 285 truckloads of earth and sand was loaded into a cargo ship. Loading was only to one ship. Moving the soil and sand from the quarry was finished before noon, which seldom happens.

(Motobu Shiokawa Pier)

A barge with a rampway was used to upload, as this happens once a month. Using a rampway barge is much more inefficient than the usual one in which dump trucks drop the earth and sand directly. Therefore, dozens of trucks had to wait. The members of Motobu-machi Shimagurumi (Motobu chapter of the Island-Wide Conference) disbanded before noon as they saw no need for protest action to delay the day’s uploading operation.

The uploading work finished at 3:30 p.m. A total of 132 truckloads of earth and sand were loaded.

Number of dump trucks to date and percentage against the total

The estimation calculated on the basis of the number of ruckloads serves only as a reference.

Number of dump trucks which made delivery from December 2018 to the end of December 2019 114,601(1.39%)