31 May 2017

News Story: Japan's Okinawa eyes taking fresh legal action over contentious U.S. base relocation

A map showing the current & future locations of the US Marine Air Station
TOKYO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Prefectural officials in Japan's southern-most prefecture of Okinawa are gearing up to take fresh legal action against the central government in an effort to block relocating a controversial U.S. military base within the prefecture, local media said Tuesday.

Japan's public broadcaster NHK said that while work is already underway in the coastal Henoko area in Nago, Okinawa, to build a replacement facility for the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station and move it from a densely populated area, Okinawa officials may look to block the issuance of a permit needed by the central government to proceed with the work.

The Okinawa prefectural government has indicated it may ask the prefectural assembly's approval to file a lawsuit seeking the central government's immediate cessation of the work.
Local media also reported Tuesday that Okinawa government officials also plan to seek a court injunction ordering the construction work remain suspended until the court has ruled on the situation.

The injunction may be filed for even before the court hands down its ruling, local media also said.

Read the full story at Xinhua