NATIVE HAWAIIANS & CHAMORRO (GUAM) WARN AUSTRALIA OVER TALISMAN SABRE 2007

NATIVE HAWAIIANS & CHAMORRO (GUAM) WARN AUSTRALIA OVER TALISMAN SABRE 2007

Two indigenous Native Hawaiian activists and a Chamorro (GUAM) activist visiting Central Queensland expressed their shock and outrage at the destruction being inflicted on the local environment by the Talisman Sabre US/Australian joint military exercises.

“ We are appalled that there will be live firing, bombing and sonar testing on the Great Barrier reef and in the habitat of endangered dugong, whales and green turtles,” said Terri Keko’olani of DMZ Hawai’i Aloha ‘Aina.

Terri Keko’olani & Leimaile Quitevis from DMZ Hawaii Aloha ‘Aina and Fanai Castro from Guam (GUÅHAN) are in Australia to support the protest against the 30,000 strong US/Australia war games.

“We are also appalled at the complete indifference of the Australian Department of Defense in asserting that the war games will not be interrupted simply because 7 peace activists are occupying the military danger zone,” said Leimaile Quitevis

“The demands of the peace protestors include: stop the war games, no more military exercises, close the Shoalwater Bay base, and return the land to the indigenous people,” said Denis Doherty, national co-ordinator of the Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition, one of the peace protest organizers.

“ In 1976 I occupied the island of Kaho’olawe to stop live bombing by the US military, said Terri Keko’olani. “ My heart goes out to June Norman, a 66 year old grandmother who is presently occupying the Shoalwater Bay training area to stop live bombing of an environment considered to be a world heritage treasure. “

Fanai Castro of the Organization of People for Indigenous Rights (OPI-R) added, “There is no justification for the toxic contamination of our lands and waters, therefore we uphold the actions demonstrated here to protect these precious resources.” She continued, “ This Peace action is significant in that it brings together a diversity of people who believe that, beyond war, another world is possible.”

Urgent Call for Henoko, Okinawa

"Japanese Government points gun at Okinawans for the first time since World War II."

According to news reports, the Japanese Government has dispatched the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force ship "Bungo" to Henoko, Okinawa. Bungo is a gun boat and minesweeper equipped with divers. It is reported the members of Maritime Self Defense Force will assist private contractors in the environmental "pre-survey" for the military off-shore base at Henoko.

The environmental assessment is an initiative of the Defense Facility Administration Bureau. Local groups and media, including T.V. Okinawa have noted that the Maritime Self Defense Force involvement in the Bureau's activity here is extremely unusual.

The details of the Maritime mission in Henoko remain unannounced. Although Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Chief Cabinet Secretary, said the Maritime Self Defense Force in Henoko is not tasked with suppression of local base opposition, Okinawans suffering from the U.S. presence and the Japanese government's discriminatory policies reacted with anger. In the early morning of May 14, about 300 people gathered at Henoko beach in the heavy rain. An 80 year-old man from Nago city did not hesitate to show his disapproval, "this act is a part of oppression against Okinawa by the Japanese military once again."

Mr. Natsume Taira, a chief of the local base opposition's canoe team remained confident , "We will continue to fight to stop the construction of the military base, which aims to kill people in this region and elsewhere."

The international anti-base community also has their eye on the people's struggle in Henoko. Ms. Corason Fabros from the International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases, Ms. Debbie Quinata from the Guam indigenous people's movement, Ms. Jun Jungsuk from SPARK (Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea) all participated in the morning gathering in Henoko to deliver their strong solidarity, and pledged their support for the Henoko Struggle.

In the evening , some 100 people joined the "Abolition of Military Bases In Asia" event organized by the Okinawa Citizens Coalition for Peace, in Naha City. Mr. Hiroshi Ashitomi, co-president of the Conference Opposing Heliport Construction, said "This act clearly shows how desperate the Japanese government is to make the new U.S. military base in Henoko against the wishes of the Okinawan people. This is a mess, Japanese democracy is rotting away."

The reports indicate that the survey will start ON MAY 16, 2007


1. WE CALL ON YOU TO SEND YOUR MESSAGE OF DISAPPROVAL.
Email, Fax, Phone statements of disapproval to the Japanese Government sending Japan Maritime Self Defense Force(JMSDF) to Henoko.

Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF)
Tel: +81-3-3268-3111
Email: mso-cadv@ic.jmsdf.go.jp

Japan Defense Facility Administration Agency (Naha Bureau)
Email: mso-cadv@ic.jmsdf.go.jp
Tel: +81-98-868-0174
Fax: +81-98-866-3375

Ministry of Defense
Tel: +81-3-5366-3111
Email: infomod@mod.go.jp

Japan Coast Guard, 11 Region Headquarter
Tel: +81-98-867-0118
E-mail(I¡§(Bsoumu-11@kaiho.mlit.go.jp

U.S. Councilor Office, Naha, Okinawa
+81-98-876-4211

U.S. Embassy in Tokyo
Tel: +3-3224-5000

2. Send your solidarity message to Henoko people

Heiwa Shimin Renrakukai
(Citizens Coalition for Peace, Naha, Okinawa)
Fax:+81-98-885 8230

Conference Opposing Heliport Construction (Nago,Okinawa)
Fax: +81-980-53-6992

For further information contact:
Ms. Suzuyo Takazato (Citizens Coalition for Peace,Naha, Okinawa)
Mobile number: +81-90-3072-0672
Fax: +81-98-864-1539


3. Send Messages, Opinions, Contributions to newspapers in Japan:

Okinawa Newspapers (less than 400 words)

Okinawa Times opinion@okinawatimes.co.jp

Ryukyu Shimpo
koe@ryuukyushimpo.co.jp

Yomiuri
https://app.yomiuri.co.jp/form/index.php

Asahi
http://www.asahi.com/reference/form.html

Mainichi
https://form.mainichi.co.jp/toiawase/

Nihon Keizai (Nihon Business)
webmaster@nikkei.co.jp

Sankei
u-service@sankei.co.jp

Tokyo Shinbun
https://cgi2.chunichi.co.jp/tko/hotline/form.shtml

Nikkan Gendai
http://gendai.net/?m=infotoiawase

Shinbun Akahata
hensyukoe@jcp.or.jp

Kyodo Tsushin
feedback@kyodonews.jp

Jiji Tsushin
https://www2.jiji.com/f/enq/form.php?pid=company

NHK [less than 400 words]
https://www.nhk.or.jp/css/goiken/bangumi.html

Nihon TV
https://www1.ntv.co.jp/staff/form.html

Fuji TV
https://wwws.fujitv.co.jp/safe/red_mpl/response/res_form.cgi

TV Asahi Hodo Station
http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/hst/contents/opinion/index_see.html

TV Tokyo
https://www2.tv-tokyo.co.jp/main/goiken.php

Hawaii-Okinawa Alliance: Letter to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

April 27, 2007

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe c/o Consulate General of Japan-Honolulu, Political Divison, 1742 Nu'uanu Ave. Honolulu, HI 96817

Dear Prime Minister Abe

This is an urgent appeal from Okinawa's friends in Hawai'i to the government of Japan calling for an immediate halt to the expansion of the U.S. military base in Henoko, Okinawa. We are shocked and outraged that the Japanese government has begun the marine survey for construction around Henoko Point despite the overwhelming opposition of the local residents.

We call on the Japanese government to respect the human rights of the people of Okinawa and immediately cease all activities related to the expansion of the U.S. military base in Henoko.

On April 18, 2007, we requested the consultative document submitted by the Japanese Defense Facilities Administration Bureau to the Okinawa Prefecture government regarding the marine survey. To date, the Japanese government has refused to release these documents that are essential to understanding the impacts of the project.

Instead the consulate staff told us to submit a freedom of information request, which is simply ridiculous. The project would be too far along, or even completed when, and if we ever received the documents. The fact that these plans have been made in secret without public review or input demonstrates contempt for the residents of Henoko.

We demand that all plans related to the military base expansion in Henoko be made public and that the Okinawan people be given decision making powers over those matters that will affect them.

Furthermore, our Chamoru brothers and sisters on Guam will be devastated by the proposed relocation of U.S. troops to their island. We demand that Japan not support or pay for the relocation of U.S. troops to Guam.

The dangerous remilitarization of Japan and the submission of the Japanese government to the demands of the U.S. military will forever be a mark of shame and dishonor on Japan in the eyes of the world. We urge you to choose the path of peace and to heed the Okinawan proverb: "Nuchi du takara" - Life is most precious.

Aloha,

The Hawai'i Okinawa Alliance

Hawaii-Okinawa Alliance: Solidarity action to stop Henoko military expansion

Today the Hawai'i Okinawa Alliance and a number of groups in Honolulu held a solidarity action for Henoko at the Japanese Consulate in Honolulu.

We held signs and picketed in front of the Consulate. We made one giant sign cut out in the shape of a Dugong with the words: "Peace for Okinawa, Nuchi du takara, Save the Dugong and No U.S. Military Bases".

Several weeks ago, we had requested a meeting with the Consul General and the consultative document prepared by the Japanese Defense Facilities Administration Bureau describing the activities of the pre-survey and survey for construction of the U.S. military base expansion at Henoko. The Consulate denied both requests.

So we showed up in person and requested to meet the consulate staff. This time Yamada-san came out to talk with us. They tried to shoo us off their property, but we maintained that we had official business and stood our ground. Yamada offered to meet with two persons inside, away from the media, but we said that we would like everyone to hear and participate in the discussion. He seemed quite shaken by the action. Last time we tried to talk with them, they were quite dismissive of our small delegation. We told them at that time that we were offended by the lack of respect and that "We'll be back."

We read the message to Prime Minister Abe aloud and handed it to Yamada to deliver to the Japanese national government.

Yamada said he would convey our message to the government. We asked when we might hear a reply, but he was noncommittal. I gave him a red ribbon as he left.

Then, on cue, everyone fanned out in the parking area and began tying hundreds of red ribbons inscribed with solidarity and peace messages onto the consulate fence. The security guard scurried around in vain to try to stop us but soon the fence was aflutter with red messages of resistance, solidarity and hope. We told them that these were prayers for peace and that the red color referred to the red card in soccer signifying that the player is out of the came. We told them to convey these to the Japanese government as well.

Mahalo to AFSC Hawai'i, DMZ-Hawai 'i / Aloha 'Aina, Anakbayan - Honolulu, Not In Our Name Hawai'i, Kapakaukau, Save UH / Stop UARC coalition, the Korea Truth Commission in Hawai'i, and the Hawai'i People's Fund, all of whom helped organize and sent representatives to the action.

In addition to a television station, a reporter from the Okinawa Times was there to do a story.

Henoko: Call for urgent action

Almost immediately after the victory of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party candidate in the by-election for an Upper House seat on April 22nd, the Japanese government started the process of building a military facility in Henoko with a determination.

On April 24th, the Japanese Defense Facilities Administration Agency (Naha Bureau) and the Japan Coast Guard began “pre-survey” of the Marine survey of the proposed area for the new military facility in Henoko. The Rev. Natsume Taira and others in Henoko have been staging non-violent action to protest and stop the survey, but the JDFAA ships and divers far outnumbered the protestors and their canoes and boats.

JDFAA characterizes this on-going “pre-survey” as an examination of the present conditions of the area with regard to coral reef, Dugong, and other marine life. But this procedure violates the environmental assessment law that stipulates disclosure of construction methods and examination of the adequacy of the methods before finalizing the construction methods. It is only after then, such environmental survey of present conditions can be conducted. As the items of this on-going “pre-survey” seem to include what actual environmental survey of present conditions is required to examine, the adequate procedure of full and appropriate environmental assessment may not be taken in the future. Conducting this “pre-survey” undermines environmental assessment itself.

The Japanese government refused to disclose details of this “pre-survey.” Construction of the military facility in Henoko can be carried out without public scrutiny, ignoring democratic participation, and even the rights of the national Diet and Okinawa Prefectural Assembly to check.

People in Henoko are mounting their protest actions very carefully because they do not want anyone, including those divers hired by the government, to be injured. But on the first day of the survey, the JDFAA forced to conduct observation survey under bad weather, endangering the safety of their divers. It shows the Japanese government’s disrespect of human lives.

Today, April 27th, it is reported that the JDFAA completed the observation survey. It is now anticipated that after a series of national holidays of Golden Week, on May 7th, they will start to install survey equipments in the area.

This survey has to be stopped!

Please send your protest messages to Japan Defense Facility Administration Agency (Naha Bureau)
Fax number: +81-98-866-3375

Please send your support messages to people of Henoko.

Heiwa Shimin Renrakukai (Citizens Coalition for Peace, Naha, Okinawa)
Fax:+81-98-885 8230
Conference Opposing Heliport Construction (Nago, Okinawa)
Fax: +81-980-53-6992

Kozue Akibayashi
EA-US-Puerto Rico Women's Network Against Militarism (Japan)

Chamorro Nation sounds off at scoping meeting

by Clynt Ridgell, KUAM News
Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Last night the scoping meeting assessing the impacts of the relocation of 8,000 U.S. Marines and their families to Guam was held in the southern village of Yona at that village's community center. At least what one group had fairly strong opinions about military buildup as a whole and the scoping meetings in particular.

Last night's scoping meetings didn't go off without its share of protestors. Outside the center members of I Nasion Chamoru ("The Chamoru Nation") voiced their displeasure with the U.S. Government in what they referred to as "a continuation of the colonization of Guam". Spokesperson Debbie Quinata announced, "We're protesting a number of things - we're protesting this planned reoccupation of our homeland and we're also protesting the manner of the way these supposed scoping meetings are being conducted. We understand it's a dog and pony show and believe that the intent is to fulfill a federal mandate and not really to gauge or even consider the feelings of the community members of this island."

Inside the scoping meeting, however, it was a different scene

Residents browsed through the various posters, charts, and handouts all designed to educate people as to the what the military plans on studying in its environmental impact statement (EIS). Most of the participants appeared to be genuinely interested in what the military had to say about their planned studies. There was a host of military officials on hand to answer questions and clarify any of the information being presented. There was even a Chamoru translator on hand as well as informational handouts written in both English and Guam's indigenous tongue.

So last night's meeting has come and gone and tonight's is just underway. After these scoping meetings the military will begin its study in preparation for the draft EIS. Once that's published there will be about a 45-day public review period followed by public hearings, which will allow residents to actually verbally testify. Chief of the Joint Guam Program Office David Bice has reassured KUAM News that residents will not be held to a three-minute time limit and that they will try to accommodate those who want to testify as best they can.

After the public hearings the military will work on publishing its final draft EIS along with a record of decision by at least the year 2010. But before of all that can happen and after they finish tonight's scoping meeting they'll head to the Northern Marianas to hold two public scoping meetings there in Saipan and Tinian.

Photos from Pacific press conference, Quito