April 28, 2012

Citizens Network for Biodiversity in Okinawa (Okinawa, Japan)

Update on Okinawas Struggle

UN panel requests Japanese government to explain their Okinawa policy: Henoko and Takae

On February 20, 2012, the Association of the Indigenous Peoples of the Ryukyus (AIPR), Citizens Network for Biodiversity in Okinawa (Okinawa BD) and the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) submitted Request to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) under the Early Warning Measures and Urgent Procedures Situation of U.S. Military Base Constructions in Okinawa, Japan. The request urged CERD to review the situation of construction plans of a new US base at Henoko/Oura Bay and 6 new helipads at Takae, Higashi Village, and to take necessary actions (see page 2 for each background). The NGOs argued that the construction plans are further burdening the people of Ryukyu/Okinawa, where 74% of US military bases in Japan are already concentrated though Okinawa consists of only 0.6 % of all Japanese territory. Upon the NGOs' request, CERD sent a letter to the Japanese government, asking to provide information on the situation of the two construction plans. The Japanese government is required to respond by July 31, after which CERD will review Japans response at an August meeting to examine whether these construction plans infringe on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. At this meeting, CERD will consider issuing a recommendation to the Japanese Government.

For further information Okinawa Outreach blog: UN panel requests Japan gov't to explain their Okinawa policy: Henoko and Takae (April 4, 2012) http://okinawaoutreach.blogspot.jp/2012/04/un-panel-requests-japan-govt-to-explain.html For update on Okinawa, please join Okinawa Outreach Facebook Group. http://www.facebook.com/groups/okinawaoutreach/ Contact - Hideki Yoshikawa(Chief Secretariat, Citizens Network for Biodiversity in Okinawa) : yhideki@cosmos.ne.jp - Masami Kawamura(Okinawa Outreach) :mamikw@nifty.com

Henoko/Oura Bay
Henoko/Oura Bay is located in the northern part of Okinawan Island, Okinawa, Japan. This area presents a vulnerable ecosystem while being one of the most biodiversity rich areas in Okinawa. The endangered Okinawa dugong, rare blue corals, and many other wild wonders inhabit the area and the livelihood of local communities is closely connected to the environment. Since 1997, the US and Japanese governments have been pushing forward their plan to construct a massive US military base there, ignoring the opposition by the people of Okinawa against the plan. The international community has also been opposing the plan: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)s Recommendations and Resolution have requested the Japanese and US governments work together to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment, and to set-up appropriate action plans for dugong conservation. In the Dugong lawsuit in 2008, the US federal court ruled that the US Department of Defense (DoD) violated the National Historical Preservation Act, which protects indigenous peoples culture and life. In 2010, in the closing statement of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity(IIFB) at COP10, the IIFB expressed its concern with regard to the plan and the construction plans potential impact on the areas biodiversity. In March this year, the Okinawa Governor submitted his comments on the Environment Impact Statement for the plan, concluding that it would not be possible for the Japanese governments policy and measures to conserve the natural environment. However, the Japanese and US governments, have been forcibly proceeding with the plan.

Takae
Takae is located in the Yanbaru forest, one of the richest areas of biodiversity in Japan. The forest is home to over 1,000 species of high plants and 5,000 species of animals, including numerous indigenous and endemic species such as the endangered Okinawa Woodpecker and Okinawa Rail. While 30% of the forest is already used as a US military training area and 22 US military helipads already exist there, the Japanese and US government are pushing forward the plan to construct six new helipads at Takae since 1999. These helipads will certainly create considerable danger to and further impact on the Yanbaru forest and the Takae community. Local people, NGOs, scientists/experts, and international organizations including the IUCN have been requesting the Japanese government to reconsider the construction plan. Since 2007, however, the Okinawa Defense Bureau has been carrying out the construction, felling trees, throwing dirt and rocks in the Yanbaru forest amid protests by the local people and their supporters. The Japanese government is also violating the human rights of Takae residents and their supporters: The government filed SLAPP lawsuits (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) against them who were carrying out peaceful protests. The Naha (Okinawa) district court ordered on March 14 that one of the plaintiffs to stop sit-in protests, approving parts of the Japanese governments argument. No Helipad Takae Residents Society, a Takae residents group, and their lawyers appealed to a higher court on March 27, demanding justice for their rights to live in peace and exercise freedom of expression.