This referendum could further complicate the U.S. base issue and create divisions among residents of Okinawa Prefecture. Efforts to reduce the residents' burden of hosting U.S. military bases could come to a standstill.
The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly has enacted an ordinance to hold a referendum asking residents whether they support the reclamation work in the Henoko district of Nago for relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan. The referendum must be held within six months of Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki officially announcing the poll.
A citizens group opposed to the Henoko relocation plan collected signatures of people backing the referendum and directly requested the prefectural government to introduce an ordinance to hold the vote.
Local referendums, which are held based on a provision of the Local Government Law, were primarily intended to gauge the wishes of voters on region-specific issues, such as a merger of cities, towns and villages. They are hardly suited to national security policies that are handled by the central government, which has to take into account the international situation and diplomatic relations.
The Henoko relocation plan was concluded at the end of long negotiations between the Japanese and U.S. governments and the Okinawa prefectural government, and had its basis in the prefecture's demand to remove the dangers posed by the Futenma base, which is surrounded by residential areas. Steadily implementing the relocation plan is vital.
The Liberal Democratic Party had called for "Unavoidable" and "Can't say either way" to be added to the answer options referendum voters could choose from on the reclamation work. However, the Social Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party, which support Tamaki, rejected this proposal.
Giving voters a straight "Yes" or "No" choice could end up excluding the will of people who do not wholeheartedly support the relocation plan, but feel it must be accepted.
Tamaki must seek harmony
The referendum is not legally binding. The aim of relocation opponents is probably to emphasize that the will of prefectural residents has been shown, following Tamaki's victory in the recent gubernatorial election. Fanning confrontation with the central government will delay the base's relocation. Consequently, the Futenma base will remain entrenched in its current location and this dangerous situation will be left as is.
Tamaki is Okinawa Prefecture's highest-ranking government official. His role is to promote harmony among prefectural residents through dialogue and to keep the wheels of the prefectural administration turning. Taking actions that could widen divisions in the prefecture will leave him unable to perform his primary duties.
Several cities among the prefecture's 41 municipalities have expressed concerns about the referendum and have not committed to cooperating with the poll. The Ishigaki Municipal Assembly passed a statement opposing the referendum. The prefectural government must lend an ear to the views of these municipalities and local assemblies.
Construction at the Henoko site has been suspended since the prefectural government retracted its permission for land reclamation work.
As a countermeasure, the central government filed a request to have the retraction suspended. If this request is accepted, it would clear the way for construction work to resume. It is important that the government sticks to a position willing to hold dialogue and continues efforts to gain the understanding of prefectural residents for the base's relocation.
Based on a Japan-U.S. agreement, the Japanese government will develop facilities the U.S. military can use in emergencies at Self-Defense Forces bases in Fukuoka and Miyazaki prefectures. This agreement's objective is to reduce the burden on Okinawa residents.
The government must tenaciously push ahead with work that makes the return of U.S. military facilities in Okinawa a reality while maintaining the deterrent U.S. forces provide.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 28, 2018)
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