Hatoyama offers an apology to Okinawa
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
WHEN EAST MEETS WEST
Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama apologized Sunday for failing to keep his promise to move Futenma air base out of Okinawa, despite months of searching for an alternative. The administration's plan now is to shift U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a residential area in the city of Ginowan to the coast near Nago, a move similar to the original relocation plan signed with the U.S. in 2006 but strongly opposed by Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima.
While clarifying the plan, Hatoyama said he will ask other prefectures at a meeting on Thursday to take on some of the U.S. Military drills currently staged in Okinawa.
"This heartbreaking conclusion I've reached to return the
Futenma base” site to Okinawa, Hatoyama said during a meeting with Nakaima that was open to the media and televised to the nation."I offer my heartfelt apology for causing confusion to the people of the prefecture in the process of being unable to keep the promise to move the base out of the prefecture."
Nakaima responded, “As for the relocation to the coast of Henoko, the current situation is that it is very deplorable and extremely difficult."The talks were held during Hatoyama's second visit this month to Okinawa, a last-minute attempt to soothe local residents upset by the thorny relocation issue. Speaking later to reporters, Hatoyama admitted that his government would fail to meet his self-imposed deadline of May 31 for resolving the matter.
Before Hatoyama's arrival, protesters held a rally outside the prefectural government office, calling on the Prime Minister to stick to his campaign pledge and give up on his attempt to keep the base in the prefecture. Many held up cards bearing the kanji for "anger."
Japan and the United States broadly agreed Saturday on a fresh accord that affectively states Fuenma will be relocated to a filled in area at Cape Hanoko in Nago off the coast of the U.S.Marine base at Camp Schwab, sources said. The accord is expected to be announced next Friday.
The agreement is basically in line with the existing relocation plan hammered out under the 2006 Japan-U.S. accord. During the one day trip, Hatoyama was also scheduled to speak with Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine, 11 other mayors and business representatives to discuss the relocation issue and measures to invigorate the prefecture's economy.
Like Governor Nakaima, Inamine is opposed to the plan to transfer Futenma's heliport functions to Nago.
The Mayor was expected to convey his opposition directly to Hatoyama. This situation is not over yet the Okinawan people are up in arms over failure to relocate the Marine Air Station. Just last Sunday 19, ooo or so people formed a human chain around the Marine Corps Futenma base in heavy rain hand in hand to show their solidarity and anger over the relocation issue. One week before outside the Futenma base 90,000 protesters held a rally chanting Marines out of Okinawa. Presently Okinawa hosts about 75% percent of the total land used by the U.S. military facilities in Japan and half of the 50,000 U.S. service
Personnel stationed here in Japan.
Warm Regards from Kitakyushu, City, Japan.
Hank F. Miller Jr.