Attendees of the symposium listening intently to speakers’ statements on November 26.
November 27, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
On the evening of November 26, at a youth assembly hall (Okinawa-ken Seinenkaikan Horu) in Naha City, an Okinawan group opposing military base relocation within Okinawa held an urgent symposium on protecting the whole of Yambaru from becoming a danger zone in the Ie-jime, Takae, and Henoko triangle. Two hundred and fifty people attended the symposium. During the panel discussion problems such as helipad construction, Henoko base construction, and Ie-jima landing strip extension were examined from various angles, including construction illegality and environmental destruction.
In regards to helipad construction in Takae, biologist Masako Yafuso explained that there is no established method to restore the subtropical nature that has been destroyed. She said that the important thing now is to halt construction, even if only for a minute.
Tsuyoshi Kitaueda, a member of the Peace Citizens’ Liaison Committee, showed understanding for the Prefectural Government’s acceptance of resumed construction on Camp Schwab barracks. However, he said that for base construction in Henoko 56,000 tetrapods (wave-dissipating concrete blocks) would be necessary, and a concrete plant will be built in order to produce these. He emphasized, “[The concrete plant is] separate of barracks construction, and we will absolutely not allow it to be built.”
Yoshikazu Makishi, an architect, showed concern about resumed construction on the barracks. Mentioning a plan for ten-odd barrack buildings to be constructed in the vicinity of Henoko Dam, he went on to point out the overall importance of forcing the Japanese government to stop the construction itself.
Journalist Tomohiro Yara said that Japan should cooperate with American think tanks based in Washington, D.C., start negotiations with the U.S. by suggesting that the U.S. military could make progress in the Asia-Pacific region without putting Marines in Okinawa.
Minoru Naka of the Ie Village Council was present at the symposium, and hurriedly went onstage to give a report on the effects and other matters related to landing strip extension at Ie-jima Auxiliary Airfield.
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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Naha symposium addresses dangers facing Yambaru from U.S. military in Takae, Henoko, Ie-jima
November 27, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpoやんばる 基地から守る 緊急シンポ 高江や辺野古の問題指摘
琉球新報 2016年11月27日 11:17
本島北部で進む米軍基地建設の問題点を考える「伊江島・高江・辺野古のトライアングル ヤンバル全体を危険地帯にしないために！緊急シンポジウム」（基地の県内移設に反対する県民会議主催）が２６日夜、那覇市の県青年会館ホールで開かれた。２５０人が聴講。パネルディスカッションでは高江のヘリコプター着陸帯（ヘリパッド）工事や辺野古新基地建設、伊江島の着陸帯拡張に関して、違法工事や環境破壊など、さまざまな角度から問題点が指摘された。
登壇者の発言に聞き入る参加者＝２６日、那覇市の県青年会館
沖縄平和市民連絡会の北上田毅氏は、県が米軍キャンプ・シュワブの兵舎建設再開を受け入れたことに一定の理解を示した上で「辺野古の新基地建設では、波消しブロックが５万６千個必要となり、それを造るためのコンクリートプラントが建設される。兵舎建設とは別のもので、これは絶対に造らせない」と強調した。
建築家の真喜志好一氏は、兵舎建設の再開に懸念を示し「辺野古ダム周辺にも十数個の兵舎を建てる計画がある。全体として基地機能は認めないところまで追い込むことが必要だ」と指摘した。
ジャーナリストの屋良朝博氏は「米国ワシントンのシンクタンクと連携し、海兵隊を沖縄に置かなくてもアジア太平洋地域に展開できるという、新たな環境整備を提示する交渉を始めるべきだ」と話した。
会場にいた伊江村議の名嘉實氏も急きょ登壇し、伊江島の着陸帯の拡張工事による影響などを報告した。
英文へ→Naha symposium addresses dangers facing Yambaru from U.S. military in Takae, Henoko, Ie-jima
