PRESS CONFERENCE:
Hunger Strike to Stop Landfill Off Henoko
Takamatsu Gushiken, head of "Gamafuyaa (Cave Diggers)"
Tsuyoshi Kitaueda, Citizen's network for peace in Okinawa
*Speakers will join the event online.
11:00-12:00 Thursday, March 4, 2021
(The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation)
On March 1, a group of people on Okinawa's main island began a hunger strike to protest the use of a landfill in Oura Bay using soil containing the remains of the dead from World War II. The government's construction plan for a US airbase in the bay calls for procuring most of the soil - about 20 million cubic meters - from the Itoman and Yaese areas, which were the sites of "uncountable deaths" from the ground battle between American and Japanese troops to retake the main island in 1945.
The row adds to the difficulties of building the base, which is mired in multiple controversies. The project, off the fishing village of Henoko, has been strongly opposed by local residents for two decades. Opponents say the government covered up problems with the soft seabed off Henoko, which will increase costs and further delay completion. Kamatsu Gushiken, who leads a group that has spent decades excavating the bones of one of the war's most infamous battles, says the landfill plan "desecrates the dead and is a disgrace to humanity." Local pastors, fathers, priests, and civic organizations support the hunger strike, which will last till March 6th
How to attend:
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, name of media outlet, FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions, please note number of reservations will be limited to 20. Doors open 30min before the event. Please sign in your name and contact details at the reception and to have your temperature taken before proceeding.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel.
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/XFrrDs49WgkwVNvM8
Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form (English only).
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews 45min before the event. There will be five positions available for livestreaming.
Professional Activities Committee