Miyako island, Small Okinawa's Small Island

February 23, 2019

picture of Miyako island's militarize plan

11^th February

“The Symposium for thinking a peace & military bases at North East Asia” was held at Miyako island.

9 people from Korea visited this time. (Pyeongtaek & Jeju island)

Pyeongtaek is where biggest U.S. Army base in the world exists.

Jeju island where Korean government constructed new Navy base on 2016 at Gangjeong village despite of strong opposition movement.

I’d like to tell you what I saw & I felt by coming Miyako island after one year of my last visiting.

Last year of January, when I came, there were no buildings at the site of Chiyoda New Japanese Defense Force’s base. In one year, a dozen of barracks for soldiers were already built and a forest of community prayer site was cut down much smaller and ammunition depots, 700 tons fuel tanks are under construction. However, under the tanks, there is a soft ground which it may not be able to support the tanks.

Soldiers will come to Miyako island on March.

Compare to Henoko issue, Miyako issue is not well known by even Okinawa people.

And Okinawa prefectural government hasn’t expressed their opposition either.

There is a representative of Miyako island to the prefectural assembly.

However, the biggest alliance which against Henoko new base contains some people so called conservative.

For the unity of All Okinawa alliance, Miyako issue is a taboo to discuss.

There is no consensus about Japanese Defense Force new missile base in an alliance.

A lot of Japanese people understood the Japanese Defense Force as disaster relief.

That is the reason why Japanese people more supportive JPDF more than U.S.military.

Japan has been having many natural disasters recently and JPDF is often serving to rescue.

However, the JADF come to Miyako island is a not for a disaster relief, it’s coming for on alert and threaten China with a missile system. And also, when the base is constructed, U.S. military will use definitely.

For example, Gangjeong village, Jeju island, Korea. The consequence of having a navy base is causing a lot of problems, like U.S. war ships and submarines uses the port and contaminate the sea water, soldiers walk around in a village with military costumes.

In the end, former mayors of the village used to state, No to the base, but new mayor now states the accept which is changing the mood of the village.

Okinawa is a remote region for Japan.

That’s why historically discriminated and thrust the U.S. bases.

This fact has been recognized by some Japanese people.

However, Miyako island is a remote island of Okinawa main island.

Yes, historically Miyako and other small islands of Okinawa has been oppressed by Ryukyu kingdom.

Henoko is known internationally now, furthermore prefectural referendum is held.

It’s a big question that Henoko issue is discussed nation wide now, but Miyako and Yaeyama JADF issue is not on the table of discussion.

As we should concern the issue of Henoko, we also have to concern the issue of Miyako and Yaeyama.

I could feel inside of their head.

Miyako is Okinawa, too !!

These voices are not be able to speak openly.

Japan->Okinawa->Miyako