On May 7, Okinawans protested derisive remarks by Kevin Maher made public earlier this year. The U.S. State Department’s former director of the Office of Japan Affairs called Okinawans “masters of manipulation and extortion” and described them as “too lazy to grow goya” (bitter gourd), a vegetable widely grown throughout Okinawa.
About 200 people gathered at the public square in front of the Okinawa Prefectural Government office to demonstrate against Maher’s remarks and Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa’s visit.
Before the protest, an Asahi News‘ explosive Wikileaks series exposing deceitful and fraudulent US-Japan machinations regarding Okinawa energized the entire prefecture. The Ryukyu Shimpo published an article retorting “U.S. government itself is a ‘master of manipulation and extortion,’” quoting an Okinawan peace activist who added that the Japanese government is equally “blameworthy.”
On May 8, the Okinawa Prefectural Government adopted a “Resolution of Protest Over The Remarks made by Mr. Kevin Maher, U.S. State Department Director of The Office of Japan Affairs” demanding that the former U.S. diplomat rescind his alleged remarks and apologize to the citizens of Okinawa Prefecture.
Anniversary of Okinawa Reversion: Henoko locals attach 100 protest banners to fence surrounding land U.S. Marines have earmarked for new base
May 15th marks the 39th anniversary of the “return” of Okinawa to Japan, yet 30 U.S. military bases remain throughout the Okinawa archipelago. Moreover, Tokyo and Washington have not abandoned their plan to destroy Oura Bay, habitat of the federally protected and critically endangered Okinawa dugong, to build a new “Futenma replacement” base, despite prefectural government disapproval at all levels.
This morning at Nago City, Henoko Bay, 150 people, in protest, attached 100 banners to a fence surrounding land U.S. Marines have earmarked for their proposed base.
In Ginowan City, the location of U.S. Marine Futenma Air Station, engaged in their 34th annual Peace Walk, forming a circular human chain around Futenma Air Field.
People across Japan are supporing their fellow citizens in Okinawa by holding solidarity demonstrations. Their message: Close U.S. Marine Air Station Futenma, cancel the plan to destroy Oura Bay to build a new base, and terminate plans to construct helipads in biodiverse Yanbaru Forest for the U.S. military V-22 Osprey aircraft, which have already taken the lives of 30 people in the U.S. and 4 in Afghanistan.
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