Mar 29 (Mon): Mayor Toguchi of Nago-city has “No opinion” on the new base / As covid-19 infection increased again, the number of protesters decreased

In response to the request of opinions called for from the Okinawa Prefectural government regarding the landfill for the new base construction, Mayor Taketoyo Toguchi of Nago-City announced at the March City Assembly that he would not express his opinions. Since assuming the mayoral office three years ago, he has not made it clear if he approves of the new base construction or not.

The opposition party criticized his attitude as a “disclaimer of mayor’s ultimate duty and responsibility to protect the citizen’s life.”

The solicitation of opinions on the “design change for the construction of the new Henoko base” held in September last year collected thoughts from 19,000 people from Japan and overseas. All disapproved of the design change, including 579 opinions from Nago citizens.

In December last year, Mayor Toguchi submitted a draft opinion in three lines to the Nago-City Assembly, but the opposition rejected it. The three lines written by the Mayor concluded that there is “No problem,” reducing the design change issues to a mere change in using a part of the reclaimed land.

The solicitation of opinions on the new base construction was called upon by Nago-City eight years ago. Mr. Susumu Inamine, the Mayor of the time, attentively wrote his analysis of both pros and cons, amounting to the length of 3,000 letters, and clearly stated his opposition against the new base construction. The attitude of Mayor Toguchi shows a sharp contrast to the previous Mayor. The new base construction is an important issue related to the environmental and life-related matters for Nago citizens. However, Mayor Toguchi, avoiding facing the seriousness of the case, leads the citizens astray and abandons his responsibility.

The mayoral election of Nago-City will be held in January next year. All Okinawa has decided to support Yohei Kishimoto (48), a city assembly member who advocates “opposition to the new base.” All Okinawa faces a vital election to win in less than a year.

(In front of Camp Schwab Gate)

It’s an incompetent government. It lifted the state of emergency in Tokyo, Saitama, and two other prefectures on the 21st despite the apparent increase in the number of people infected with covid-19. In just one week after that, the number of infections has increased rapidly nationwide. In Okinawa, the number has tripled from last week to 70-80 a day. A large inflow of tourists from the mainland has brought a higher risk of infection in Okinawa.

Governor Denny Tamaki immediately requested the restaurant to shorten the service hours.

The number of people gathering for protest is likely to decrease again. The number of people in front of the gate, close to 50 last week, has reduced to about 30. Severe criticism of Prime Minister Suga erupted, “It’s not time to get excited about the Olympics. The Suga administration will destroy Japan!” The incompetent government can’t say anything to the US military, and as a result, the negative impacts are inflicting on the lives of Okinawans every day. Mr. Yamauchi, a former physical education teacher, took the lead and energized the gathered protesting group.

No concrete mixer truck showed up on this day either, but 101 trucks brought in the construction materials.

(Ryukyu Cement Awa Pier)

No loading of earth-and-sand because the coal carrier ships occupied the berth. The trucks carried earth-and-sand to the temporary storage inside the pier grounds all day long. Fifteen people protested at the entrance and exit gates and delayed the delivery.

By 8 pm, 773 dump trucks entered to make deliveries.

(Motobu Town Shiokawa Port)

Five members of Motobu Shimagurumi (Motobu Chapter of the Island-Wide Conference) protested. There were ten riot police, but the protesters, without fear, walked in front of the dump trucks to slow them down.

The workers moved 562 truckloads of earth-and-sand onto four rampway barges and transferred them to the carrier ships off the shore.