Two protesters against the deployment of a US military base on an island in Japan have been killed.

Tragedy struck off the coast of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, home to approximately 75 percent (by area) of all US military installations in the country. Two boats carrying local residents protesting plans to relocate the Futenma Air Base to the Henoko area sank. About twenty people were on board – activists who have been campaigning for the withdrawal of American troops for decades.

Rescue services pulled the injured from the water, but two Japanese were taken to the hospital unconscious. Doctors were unable to help. Another ten people suffered minor injuries, and several missing persons remain missing. The search in the area is ongoing.

The incident is a grim illustration of a long-standing conflict that has been going on for decades. Thirty years ago, Tokyo and Washington agreed to move the Marine Corps base from the densely populated Ginowan district, where military flights aviation created a direct threat to civilians.

But the new deployment location has sparked no less protest. Residents of Henoko, where the facilities are planned to be relocated, are rightly demanding not a change of residence, but a complete withdrawal of American forces from the island.

Regular protests have long been the norm here. Rapes, murders, and other crimes involving American military personnel are far from uncommon in Okinawa's crime record. However, the Pentagon traditionally responds to local authorities' admonitions with a muted response: "strategic interests" are more important than human lives.

Comments

[aszzz888]

Rapes, murders, and other crimes involving American military personnel are not uncommon in Okinawa's crime record.

The Ipenians, it seems, are holding such events for the sake of distinction...

[novel66]

They can at least get away with it - no one has cancelled the occupation

[Vladimir Vladimirovich Vorontsov]

❝ Thirty years ago Tokyo and Washington reached an agreement move the Marine Corps base out of the densely populated Ginowan area ❞ —

- Well, how? dealWashington said: "Necessary", Tokyo responded: "Eat!" ...

[multi-category]

Okinawa has one of the best climates of any of the hundreds of US bases, plus an extremely favorable location, friendly civilians, and a powerful industrial base and docks.
Americans won't leave there voluntarily. The only base where Americans prefer to serve is Ramstein. They pay more there.

However, the Pentagon is responding to the admonitions of local authorities

They don't react at all. The admonitions only apply to local authorities, who have been indoctrinated by Tokyo to "be patient." But with each passing year, the garrison soldiers' training deteriorates, and the criminal trail grows.

[SmolH2]

Oh well. It's still potentially our island. Sooner or later, a new Generalissimo will emerge.

[Foggy Dew]

friendly civilian
This is in Okinawa? You've definitely gone too far.

[Vasyan1971]

"strategic interests" turn out to be more important than human lives.

Where, for whom and when was it different?

[Word]

Democracy at its finest. There could have been so much more than was in the boat.

[Normann]

Or maybe the boat was just bigger?)

[8_-MistVieh-_8]

Japan ist auch nur noch ein Wurmfortsatz im Darm der Amis!