In the afternoon of April 17, Henoko action was held in front of “Henoko Tent Village,” the site of an 8 year long sit-in protest against the construction of a new US military base, as well as in front of the “No-Base and Peace Gallery” or the fence that divides Henoko and Camp Schwab.
Henoko people displayed the big banner, which they had taken with them to Washington DC this January to deliver “Okinawa’s voices” against the presence of US bases in Okinawa. The other banners read “350 billion yen ($US 430 billion) for aiding disaster relief and rebuilding efforts in Tohoku, not for constructing a new US base in Henoko/Oura bay,” “Use money not for military forces but for our life and nature,” and “Sympathy Budget for Disaster Affected Areas and Protect the Dugong.”
Ms. Suzuyo Takazato of Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence and Mr. Hiroshi Ashitomi of Committee against Heliport Construction, gave a spirited peace talk.