Execution lawsuit begins on behalf of U.S. military relocation to Henoko, Okinawa, Governor Tamaki: ``The country's methods are forceful''

According to Japanese media outlets, the first hearing in a proxy execution trial to allow the government to approve the construction work on behalf of Okinawa Prefecture, which does not approve of ground improvement work, was held on Monday the 30th at the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court. Governor Denny Tamaki of Okinawa Prefecture also appeared in court and appealed the prefecture's claims. According to NHK and other sources, the national government stated in its argument that ``removal of the dangers of the Futenma base cannot be taken lightly as a public interest,'' and the prefectural government stated, ``Three and a half years have passed since the application was submitted, and the Supreme Court's judicial decision has confirmed it.'' "Despite this, the government has not approved it," and demanded that the government be allowed to carry out the execution on its behalf. On the other hand, on the prefectural side, Governor Tamaki appeared in court and gave his opinion, arguing that ``the will of the people is the public interest,'' and that the government's proxy execution, which infringes on the prefecture's autonomy, is unacceptable.

Henoko, Nago City, US military base Futenma Governor Tamaki also said, ``The government should have had thorough dialogue before proceeding with the execution, but instead of doing so, it took a coercive approach.'' Even if the Henoko relocation were approved, it would take 12 years and the construction would be difficult. "There is a possibility that more will be sent, so it will not lead to immediate removal of the danger." Up until now, regarding the relocation of Futenma Air Base to Henoko, which is said to be the "world's most dangerous" airport adjacent to a residential area, the Japanese government has held that relocation is the "only solution" to eliminate the danger. Okinawa Prefecture has been at loggerheads for many years, insisting that this will not lead to a fundamental solution. In September of last year, the prefecture brought a lawsuit regarding the relocation of Henoko, arguing that the government's ``correction instructions'' to approve changes to the plan were illegal, and the prefecture lost the case at the Supreme Court. The national government issued an ``instruction for approval'' to the prefecture, but Governor Tamaki did not approve, so the national government filed a lawsuit earlier this month for ``proxy execution,'' which would effectively allow construction to proceed.