Prefectural Assembly passes resolution and opinion concerning indecent assault by U.S. soldier
On the morning of February 24, in Naha, the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly unanimously passed a protest resolution and written opinion concerning an incident of indecent assault by a U.S. soldier.
February 24, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
A member of the U.S. Marine Corps stationed at Camp Courtney was arrested on February 11 on suspicion of indecent assault. On February 24, in a plenary session, the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly unanimously passed a protest resolution and written opinion calling for the U.S. government, Japanese government, and U.S. military to issue apologies and reparations to the victim of the indecent assault, and calling for thorough countermeasures to such occurrences. The protest resolution and written opinion severely criticized the incident with the words “This is a crime that violates human dignity.” The members of the Special Committee on U.S. Base Affairs then vi
Posted on March 1, 2021.
What is the government going to do? If nothing is achieved even when the prefecture, prefectural assembly and local governments are united in protest, then how can it be seen as anything other than the government abandoning its role?
In a meeting of the House of Representatives Budget Committee held on Feb. 17, Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said that the low-altitude training conducted by U.S. military aircraft is “important training to accomplish the goals of the Japan-U.S. security treaty.”
The statement Suga made to the Diet may have led Americans to believe that the Japanese government has given its approval to these practices.
Okinawa Prefectural Assembly building
January 15, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
On January 14, a meeting of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly’s Special Committee on U.S. Military Base Affairs (chaired by Moriyuki Teruya) opened and unanimously adopted the chairman’s declaration objecting to the low altitude flying of U.S. military aircraft in the vicinity of the Kerama Islands. The declaration mentioned that Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi’s statement, in which he gave his approval for these flights, was “truly deplorable”; requested a drastic revision of the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement; and asked for training in the sky over residential districts to stop. The Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) is attempting to coordinate with the US military as well as relevant agencies of the U.S. and Japanese governments, and calling personnel from these agencies to visit the Okinawa Prefectural Office next week or thereafter.
LDP loses first of series of Okinawa polls in blow to Suga government Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. If you re not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: https://www.enable-javascript.com/
Jiji Jan 18, 2021
Miyakojima, Okinawa Pref. – A candidate supported by the ruling bloc has lost to an opposition-backed rival in the first of a series of mayoral elections in Okinawa Prefecture, in a blow to the government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in the run-up to next year’s Okinawa gubernatorial election.
In the mayoral poll in the city of Miyakojima on Sunday, Kazuyuki Zakimi, 71, an independent supported by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, defeated incumbent Mayor Toshihiko Shimoji, 75, who also ran as an independent candidate and was backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito.
December 8, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
During the second day of general inquiries at the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly’s (OPA) regular November session December 7, eight members of the Okinawa-Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faction took the podium. In response to a claim made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated regarding Japanese fishing boats operating in the ocean around the Senkaku Islands, “The fact is these were not mere fishing boats, and were entering the area as a provocation,” Okinawa Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries chief commented, “The assertation that our prefecture’s fishing boats are ‘disguised fishing boats’ is absolutely impossible.” This was in response to a question by Ichiro Ohama, who represents the Ishigaki City district.