Okinawa governor to block construction of new US airbase

[unhappycamper]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/14/okinawa-governor-to-block-construction-of-new-us-airbase

Takeshi Onaga says he will revoke permits for offshore base in Henoko’s pristine waters, opposing Japan’s central government

Okinawa governor to block construction of new US airbase
Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Monday 14 September 2015 05.15 EDT

The governor of the Japanese island of Okinawa is poised to halt work on a US airbase, in a move that is expected to irritate Washington and frustrate Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, as his government seeks to pass deeply unpopular security bills this week.

Takeshi Onaga, who was elected as governor last year vowing to prevent construction of an offshore US marine base in the remote Henoko district on Okinawa’s east coast, said he would revoke permits to conduct landfill work.

“This is a first step towards preventing this from being built,” he told reporters two days after the central government resumed reclamation work in Henoko’s pristine waters. Protesters in kayaks had previously clashed with the coastguard in the area.

He added: “We will use every possible measure to block the construction of a new base in Henoko, as we promised during our election campaign.”