琉球新報 2016年11月29日 06:30
知事就任２年を前に報道各社の質問に答える翁長雄志知事＝２８日午後、沖縄県庁
沖縄県の翁長雄志知事は２８日、１２月１０日の知事就任２周年を前に報道各社のインタビューに応じた。米軍のヘリコプター着陸帯（ヘリパッド）新設が条件とされる米軍北部訓練場（同県東村・国頭村）の過半の返還計画について「苦渋の選択の最たるものだ。約４千ヘクタールが返ってくることに異議を唱えるのは難しい」と述べ、ヘリパッド建設を事実上容認する考えを示した。
その上で翁長知事は「ＳＡＣＯ（日米特別行動委員会最終報告）の着実な実施と地元２村との信頼などを考える中で、オスプレイ配備撤回で物事は収れんされるのではないか」と語った。翁長知事は知事選出馬に伴う２０１４年１０月の公約発表会見で「ヘリパッドはオスプレイの配備撤回を求めている中で連動し反対する」と明言しており、事実上の公約撤回となる。辺野古新基地建設には反対していく姿勢を改めて示した。北部訓練場の現状については「環境影響評価もされないままオスプレイが飛び交う状況は大変厳しい。工事を進めるに当たっても、参院選の選挙結果の数時間後に工事が始まるのは県民の信頼を勝ち取ることから大変ほど遠い」などと政府のやり方を批判した。その上で「４千ヘクタール返すから文句を言うなというのは県民は冷静に見ている」「オスプレイの配備撤回があればヘリパッドもなかなか十二分には運用しにくいのではないか」とも指摘した。
最高裁に上告中の辺野古違法確認訴訟で敗訴判決が出た場合の対応を問われ、辺野古沖の岩礁破砕の再申請や設計変更、サンゴ移植などを巡る知事権限を挙げ「埋め立て承認が元に戻るにしても一つずつ判断していける。その中で（新基地建設反対の）思いを遂げていきたい」と語り、新基地建設反対を訴えていく考えを改めて示した。
辺野古新基地建設で海を埋め立てず既存の基地内に移設する考えの是非を問われ、「普天間基地は県外、国外」などの公約を挙げて「政府にまずは『辺野古唯一』はやめてもらいたいとの思いを伝え、新辺野古基地を造らせない、大きな成果を得るようにしていきたい」と述べるにとどめた。
沖縄の基地負担の現状に対する本土での理解について「いろいろな形で進んだが、まだ無関心があるので、いろいろな形で多くの方に発信することもやっていきたい」と決意を見せた。
知事就任から２年を振り返り「全力投球してきたつもりだ。２００余の公約の実現には、取り組みにほぼ着手、推進しているところだ」と述べ、アジア経済戦略構想や子どもの貧困問題への対応などにさらに取り組みを強化させる姿勢を示した。
知事選で結成された「オール沖縄」の現状について「政治が県民の思いと一緒にきたのではないかと思う」と述べた。
英文へ→Governor suggests reluctant acceptance of helipad construction, remains opposed to Osprey
知事、建設を事実上容認 沖縄・高江の米軍ヘリパッド「苦渋の最たるもの」 オスプレイ反対は堅持
琉球新報 2016年11月29日 06:30
Governor suggests reluctant acceptance of helipad construction, remains opposed to Osprey
November 29, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
Governor Takeshi Onaga takes questions from reporters in advance of the two-year anniversary of his inauguration as governor on the afternoon of November 28 at the Prefectural Office.
On November 28, Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga held an interview with multiple news outlets in advance of the two-year anniversary of his inauguration as governor on December 10. Regarding the plan to return slightly more than half of the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area in Higashi Village and Kunigami Village, the return being conditioned on construction of new U.S. military helipads, Onaga said, “This is the ultimate painful decision. It is difficult to object to the return of roughly four thousand hectares of land,” essentially expressing acceptance of the helipad construction.
Onaga then said, “When thinking about the steady implementation of the SACO (Special Action Committee on Okinawa) report and the relationship of trust with the two villages [of Higashi and Kunigami], I think everything converges on the removal of the Osprey.” When announcing his campaign pledges in October 2014 prior to being elected, Onaga explicitly stated that he opposed the helipads in connection with his call for the Osprey to be removed from Okinawa, and his recent comment thus constitutes a practical revocation of his campaign pledge. He reaffirmed his stance of continuing to oppose the new base construction in Henoko.
Regarding the current situation in the Northern Training Area, Onaga criticized the Japanese government’s methods, saying, “It is dreadful that Osprey are flying the skies with no environmental impact assessment having been performed [regarding their use]. In proceeding with the construction, [the government] began construction just hours after the results of the House of Councilors election were announced, which did nothing to win the trust of Okinawans.” He further stated that “Okinawans are calmly observing [the government’s assertion that] we should not complain because four thousand hectares will be returned” and that “if the Osprey are removed, it would probably be difficult to utilize the helipads fully.”
When asked how he would deal with the situation if the Supreme Court rejects Okinawa’s appeal in the lawsuit over the Henoko land reclamation, Onaga referred to the authority he has as governor regarding reapplication for and design changes to the reef fracturing permit for the ocean near Henoko and coral transplanting. “Even if the land reclamation permit is reinstated, I am still able to make individual decisions regarding each specific issue. In doing so, I want to stick to my view [of opposition to the new base construction],” said Onaga, reaffirming his intention to continue expressing opposition to the new base construction.
When asked his opinion of the possibility of building a new facility in Henoko within the existing base there without reclaiming any land from the ocean, Onaga referred to his campaign pledge to have Futenma relocated outside of Okinawa and merely said, “I want to achieve success in expressing to the central government the wish that it stop insisting that ‘Henoko is the only option’ and prevent a new base from being built in Henoko.”
Onaga expressed determination in improving the understanding of Japanese people outside of Okinawa regarding the base burden borne by Okinawa, saying, “this has progressed in various ways, but I think there is still indifference, so I want to continue conveying [the situation] to many people in various ways.”
Looking back on his two years as governor, Onaga said, “I believe I have put in my full efforts. We have begun initiatives to move forward with almost all of the more than 200 pledges I made during my campaign.” He expressed his intention to strengthen initiates even further toward achieving an Asian economic strategic vision and tackling the issue of childhood poverty.
Regarding the current state of the “All Okinawa” movement that was formed during the gubernatorial election, Onaga said, “I believe politics has come together with the sentiment of the people.”
(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)
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November 29, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
