--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 17
EDITORIAL: Tokyo’s hollow court victory will not end base issue in Okinawa
(社説)辺野古判決 それでも対話しかない
 
The high court ruling in a lawsuit over land reclamation work to relocate a U.S. military base in Okinawa Prefecture was a total victory for the central government’s argument.
国の主張が全面的に認められた判決だ。

Even so, the government must make determined efforts to win back the trust of Okinawa or it will never be able to find a real solution to the problem.
だからといって、政府が沖縄の不信を解く努力を怠れば、問題解決には決してつながらない。

The Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court issued its ruling Sept. 16 on Tokyo’s dispute with the southernmost prefecture over a plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from the crowded city of Ginowan to the Henoko district of Nago.
米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設をめぐり、国と県が争った裁判で、福岡高裁那覇支部は国側勝訴の判決を言い渡した。

The ruling contended that a replacement base in Henoko is the only way to remove the damage caused by the Futenma air base. This is a highly questionable assertion.
「普天間の被害を除去するには辺野古に基地を建設する以外にない」と言い切ったことに、大きな疑問を感じる。

This is a delicate and complicated issue that has a long history of controversy. Experts at home and abroad are widely divided over how the problem should be resolved.
長い議論の歴史があり、国内外の専門家の間でも見解が分かれる、微妙で複雑な問題だ。

But Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga was the only witness the court permitted to testify on behalf of the prefecture. The court rejected the prefectural government’s requests to call witnesses and concluded the trial after only two sessions.
だが、この訴訟で裁判所が直接話を聞いたのは翁長雄志知事ひとりだけ。それ以外の証人申請をことごとく退け、法廷を2回開いただけで打ち切った。

How could the court reach its surprisingly clear and decisive conclusion on this complex question through such a perfunctory trial? Or why did it have to, in the first place? Setting aside the question of whether the ruling is reasonable or not, the manner in which the court handled the case will undoubtedly provoke controversy.
そんな審理で、なぜここまで踏みこんだ判断ができるのか。しなければならないのか。結論の当否はともかく、裁判のあり方は議論を呼ぶだろう。

Since this spring, the central and prefectural governments held a series of talks over the Futenma relocation issue. But no substantial discussions on key topics had taken place in the talks when the central government, immediately after the July Upper House election, filed the suit against Onaga.
国と県はこの春以降、話しあいの期間をもった。だが実質的な中身に入らないまま、参院選が終わるやいなや、国はこの裁判を起こした。

The ruling stressed the importance of “the spirit of mutual concessions” and pointed out that there should be “a relationship of equality and cooperation” between the central and prefectural governments.
Nevertheless, it effectively supported the central government’s hard-line, high-handed approach toward the Futenma issue.
判決は「互譲の精神」の大切さを説き、「国と県は本来、対等・協力の関係」と指摘しながらも、結果として国の強硬姿勢を支持したことになる。

In a series of recent elections, people in Okinawa have made clear their opposition to the relocation plan.
辺野古移設にNOという沖縄の民意は、たび重なる選挙結果で示されている。

During a news conference after the ruling was handed down, Onaga said he will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. He pledged to accept whatever decision is handed down by the top court.
The governor, however, said, “I myself will continue the fight to block the construction of a new base in Henoko with a firm determination.”
翁長知事は判決後の会見で、最高裁の確定判決が出れば従う姿勢を明確にする一方、「私自身は辺野古新基地を絶対に造らせないという思いをもってこれからも頑張りたい」と語った。

Onaga intends to use his various powers as governor to block implementation of the relocation project. He has the power to refuse the central government’s requests for permission for changes in land reclamation plans.
国が埋め立て計画の変更申請を出した際など、様々な知事権限を使って抵抗する考えだ。

Both sides apparently share the desire to remove the danger posed by the Futenma base, located in the middle of a densely populated area, as soon as possible.
一日も早く普天間の危険をなくしたい。その願いは政府も県も同じはずだ。

The quickest way to resolve the problem is to make continuous efforts to reach an agreement through dialogue instead of fighting a head-on battle.
対立ではなく、対話のなかで合意点を見いだす努力を重ねることこそ、問題解決の近道である。

However, the series of strong-arm measures the central government has taken against Okinawa since the Upper House election have made people in the prefecture even more distrustful of the government.
だが参院選後、政府による沖縄への一連の強腰の姿勢に、県民の不信は募っている。

The government has resumed work to build helipads for the U.S. military around the Takae district of Higashi in northern Okinawa, while deploying a massive squad of riot police to block protesters. The administration has also deployed Self-Defense Forces helicopters to transport construction vehicles to the site.
大量の機動隊員に守らせて東村高江の米軍ヘリパッド移設工事に着手し、工事車両を運ぶため自衛隊ヘリを投入した。

Commenting on budget requests for next fiscal year, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and other government officials indicated that government expenditures to promote the local economy in Okinawa are linked to the base issue.
来年度予算案の概算要求では、菅官房長官らが基地問題と沖縄振興のリンク論を持ち出した。

The reality the government should confront is that it is difficult to push through the Futenma relocation plan without winning support from the people in Okinawa. The lack of support from the local communities will also make it impossible to ensure stable operations of military bases in the prefecture.
政府が直視すべきは、県民の理解がなければ辺野古移設は困難だし、基地の安定的な運用は望み得ないという現実だ。

If the central government maintains its recalcitrant attitude toward this challenge without making serious efforts to respond sincerely to the voices of local residents, the prospects for a solution will only become even bleaker.
県民の思いと真摯(しんし)に向き合う努力を欠いたまま、かたくなな姿勢を続けるようなら、打開の道はますます遠のく。

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