The government in Tokyo treats Okinawa and its citizens like trash. Opposition the relocation of Futenma has been unwavering for almost 20 years. Yet, the present and previous governments have ignored Okinawa's insistence that based be moved, just not anywhere in Okinawa. In an effort to force the issue Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's most recent budget reduced financial support to the island to levels from 10 years ago.
The governor of Okinawa on Monday ordered a Defense Ministry branch to suspend all work in the area where a key U.S. military air base is to be relocated, in a growing confrontation between the island and the central government.
Gov Takeshi Onaga said that a concrete anchor thrown into the sea for a drilling survey at the site is believed have damaged coral.
It was his first specific action to interfere with the relocation since taking office four months ago. His predecessor’s approval of the plan had allowed the Defense Bureau to begin preparing the site in Henoko for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
Onaga told a news conference that the use of concrete blocks had not been authorized. He said the prefecture needs to assess the damage, and demanded the Defense Bureau stop all activity related to the relocation within one week or lose its license for the drilling work, which could put the entire relocation on hold.
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