ASIDE from the rape and different abuses of US troopers in Okinawa which have been featured in information tales, the island is once more on the headlines because of the arrival of the most recent batch of people who find themselves now partaking in flagrant imperialism in Okinawa — the Canadian army.
Unknown to many, Canadian personnel are utilizing a US-controlled air base and naval port on Okinawa for his or her operations within the Asia-Pacific. Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are recurrently utilizing the US-controlled Kadena Air Base and White Seashore naval port on Okinawa for his or her operations within the Asia-Pacific.
The Okinawans had been victimized twice. First, by the Japanese who invaded and occupied their once-independent Kingdom of Ryukyu Islands after which, second, by the Individuals who — due to the concern of the Okinawans of them — led to the suicide of hundreds of panicked natives. Japan and the US additionally took turns bombing Manila, making it one of the vital destroyed cities in World Conflict 2.
US President Joe Biden, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Canadian, American and Japanese troopers. COLLAGE BY IDSI
The US army, beginning in 1945, proceeded to deprive many Okinawan farmers and Indigenous peoples of their lands in an effort to construct army bases all through Okinawa and neighboring islands, a course of dubbed by Okinawans as “Bayonets and Bulldozers,” in cahoots with the Japanese authorities. Till right this moment, Tokyo refuses to acknowledge the Indigenous peoples of Okinawa.
Not solely have such operations elevated the already very excessive tensions within the area, BUT the CAF is ALSO now in connivance within the ongoing dispossession of Uchinanchu (Indigenous Okinawans) who, for the previous 75 years, have fought to regain their lands from the US armed forces.
It have to be remembered that Canada additionally has a deplorable historical past towards its personal native individuals, with hundreds of mass graves discovered just lately in “residential faculties” of principally Indigenous youngsters, even perpetrated by Catholic clergymen and nuns who’re white Canadians. In reality, simply this July 25, 2022, Pope Francis apologized for the function of the Catholic Church within the abuse and compelled assimilation of Indigenous peoples on the website of a former residential faculty in Maskwacis, Alberta.
Present threats to Okinawa, Asia and the setting
The Pentagon established dozens of bases on the island, 32 of that are nonetheless working. At simply 877 sq. miles, Okinawa Prefecture accounts for simply 0.6 p.c of Japan’s land mass however comprises greater than 70 p.c of the nation’s US-occupied territory!
Nonetheless, a brand new US army base goes up in Henoko-Oura Bay close to Nago. The development will not add to the already excessive variety of bases however slightly exchange one: the bay is the relocation website for the Futenma Marine Corps Air Station, at the moment in populous Ginowan and a reason behind misery to residents, who’ve lived with the roar of Futenma’s planes for the reason that finish of the battle. As a result of Okinawa is already so filled with bases — they cowl about 15 p.c of the island — the Japanese authorities, in compliance with the US Protection Division, is extending the island’s japanese edge. With a purpose to do it, landfill is being dumped into Henoko-Oura Bay, the place two coral reefs and hundreds of aquatic species — almost 300 of them endangered — at the moment dwell.
Polls carried out by newspapers have constantly proven that over 70 p.c of individuals oppose the plan. A referendum in February with an unusually excessive turnout confirmed these numbers: 72 p.c of Okinawan voters had been towards the Henoko-Oura Bay building. “The central authorities,” The Japan Instances reported after the vote, “has stated it can ignore the outcome and go forward with building.” The place is democracy?
Okinawans have been wanting to get US forces off their island. Two infamous rapes dedicated by US personnel, one a gang-rape of a 12-year-old woman in 1995, have triggered antipathy towards Individuals on the a part of Okinawans.
The 25,000 members of the US army stationed on Okinawa, constitutes greater than half the whole variety of US forces in Japan.
Transient historical past of Okinawa
Nearer to Taiwan than to Japan, Okinawa right this moment has additionally grow to be a vacationer vacation spot. However few vacationers are ready for the never-ending fences ringing US army installations, together with the Kadena Air Base at the moment being utilized by Canadian forces.
Japan annexed the complete Ryukyu archipelago, together with Okinawa Island, within the 1870s. The Tokyo authorities refuses to acknowledge the Indigenous peoples of Okinawa, asserting that they’ve been a part of Japanese territory since time immemorial. The method of annexing Ryukyu is a violation of Article 51 of the Vienna Conference on the Legislation of Treaties, in keeping with Worldwide Legislation specialists.
Throughout World Conflict 2, Okinawa Island had the bloodiest battle from April 1 to June 22, 1945; over 95,000 Japanese Army troops and 20,000 Individuals had been killed. The Cornerstone of Peace on the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman lists 149,193 individuals from Okinawa — 1 / 4 of the civilian inhabitants — had been both killed or dedicated suicide in the course of the Battle of Okinawa. Only a few Japanese ended up in POW camps as a consequence of their reluctance to give up.
Locals vs US militarization
Governor of Okinawa Prefecture Denny Tamakihas lengthy been against the US army presence on Okinawa. In 2009, he stated, “It is about time the Japanese authorities let Okinawa return to its authentic self” and “We have to wean our financial system from its dependence on the bases,” and argued towards the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to a different location on Okinawa. The bottom relocation was essentially the most vital subject for voters within the 2018 election, in keeping with an Asahi Shimbun exit ballot.
Following a Covid-19 outbreak within the prefecture’s US bases, Tamaki criticized the American army, expressing doubt regarding the bases’ potential to cease the unfold of the virus, which on the time had already contaminated over 61 personnel. He cited potential sources of the outbreak, together with off-base army events which had excessive dangers of group unfold.
The US can be maneuvering to extend its army presence within the Philippines. There are additionally reviews that Australia has put in army models within the Southern Philippines. The document of abuses of US army personnel within the native communities of Okinawa, and within the Philippines, ought to function ample warning to the brand new Marcos presidency that the West seems intent on maintaining on increasing militarization and tensions to any extent to keep up its hegemony, and is now ALREADY IN OUR BACKYARD. Let’s not be the frontline of US positions and missiles. Ukraine has already misplaced 1 / 4 of its territory and a few 25,000 of its younger males on encouragement by the US and the UK, just because they insist on stationing their army on the border of Russia.
We must always not fall for the false fable of freedom spun by some western nations via fixed invasions, double requirements, below the duvet of their management of world media. Lets simply hold working for the development of the Filipino household, financial system, know-how, place, skills and strengths — FOR the Filipino!
Dr. Mario Ferdinand Pasion is director of Phil-BRICS Strategic Research and the chairman of Nationalist Filipinos In opposition to Overseas Intervention.
New Worlds by IDSI. For the clever, progressive readers who need to see the world past the headlines ([email protected]).
