In response to the accident where two boats capsized off Henoko in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, the "All Okinawa Conference," which is linked to the "Helicopter Base Opposition Council" that operated the boats, decided on the 17th to suspend maritime protest activities while announcing that regular land-based activities would resume from April. However, numerous issues remain to be resolved.
This was a tragic accident that occurred during peace studies, but in June of Reiwa 6 (2024), another tragedy struck in Nago City when a male security guard, who was restraining a woman participating in protest activities, was caught up in a dump truck and killed.
The dangers of protest activities have long been pointed out, yet Governor Denny Tamaki and prefectural assembly members supported by the All Okinawa Conference stubbornly refused to look at footage from the time of past accidents. Ideally, investigating accident causes and implementing safety measures should be unrelated to ideology, but their response was insincere, turning away from "inconvenient facts."
There are also concerns regarding this accident. On the 17th, a woman who has been involved in protest activities visited Henoko Fishing Port—where the boats had been salvaged—for a memorial service. In front of reporters, she spoke about the deceased female high school student (17), saying, "I believe her feelings were surely 'Please stop such reckless construction in Henoko,' which is why she came to Henoko."
Isn't this an extremely one-sided interpretation?
To begin with, learning the true nature of the Battle of Okinawa, which began in the final stages of the last great war, is highly meaningful. But why does viewing the ongoing relocation construction in Henoko qualify as "peace studies"? Was there no issue with putting non-protester high school students aboard small "protest boats"? How exactly was safety ensured? Those who have continued protest activities must sincerely confront this accident and the problems it has brought to light. (Naoki Otake, Naha Bureau Chief)
by Bright_Fuel2271