Candlelit protests against US military bases in Okinawa

December 22, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

At Kenmin Hiroba in Naha on December 21, citizens took part in a candlelit protest to denounce a U.S. Marine MV-22 Osprey crashing off east coast of Nago and Japan’s Supreme Court ruling against Okinawa Prefecture in a lawsuit over the relocation of Futenma air base which would mean a new base in the already base-burdened island. Those who gathered lit paper candles as a powerful symbol of their protest. Candlelit protests were also held in front of Nago Police station as well as in the Prefectures of Hyogo and Fukuoka.

The protest was held following Okinawa Prefecture’s defeat in the lawsuit over the legality of the relocation brought by the national government against Okinawa in response to Governor Takeshi Onaga’s retraction of permission to reclaim land for the base in Henoko, Nago City. The Second Petty Bench of the Supreme Court announced their judgement of Okinawa’s appeal without listening to any testimony that would have been needed to overturn the initial verdict. The protest against the verdict event was arranged through social media.

(English translation by T&CT)