Reviving the Pioneering Efforts That Were Made 40 Years Ago in Removing Poisonous Gases

Published in Ryukyu Shimpo
(Japan) on 15 July 2011
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Nathan Biant. Edited by Andrew Schmidt  .
July 15 marks the 40th anniversary of a real attempt at removing poisonous gases from Okinawa. After the gas issue came to light in July 1969, it took until September 1971 — a total of 2 years and 2 months — to completely deal with it. The removal process was a battle in which the citizens of the prefecture — led by Governor Yara Choubyou, who came to power for the first time in the direct elections — united against the U.S. Army, who used the base as they wished without considering matters such as how dangerous it would be to the residents. Upon consideration of the current problems with the base, that event in which free use of the base was challenged will become a point of reference.

Firstly, public opinion was undivided on removing the poisonous gases from Okinawa, and with it in place, the Ryukyu administration worked carefully on safety measures that incorporated a plan to evacuate residents.

Secondly, the Okinawan representative didn’t yield one bit in his dealings with both the American and Japanese governments. For instance, the U.S. Army wouldn’t take any responsibility for the $600,000 cost for reparations and construction of an alternate road for removal.

The scene of Governor Yara approaching High Commissioner Lampert has been recorded in American records. “The poisonous gases were brought into Okinawa unbeknownst to the public and so it is not up to Okinawa to remove them. It shows a lack of sympathy on America’s part to not take even a little bit of responsibility for the costs to the locals to remove them.”

Governor Yara appealed not only to the U.S. Army, but also repeatedly to the Japanese government. At first, they avoided removal-related issues, saying “For us to intervene in top secret military affairs would be problematic” However, after a strong speech was made by the elected governor at the direct elections, in the end, they concluded that the Japanese government would pay the costs that America should have.

There are many similarities between the process that this case took and the current issue of relocating the American Futenma air base. For instance, prefecture Governor Nakaima Hirokazu took the lead, followed by many Okinawan citizens in requesting that the base be relocated outside of the prefecture, and the U.S. Army is making Japan pay for the costs of building an alternative air base. The Japanese government’s stance of continually placing the burden of the base on Okinawa hasn’t changed either.

The removal of poisonous gases from Okinawa was the first case of its kind in the world, and its disclosure gradually gave rise to debate about the prohibition of chemical weapons among the United Nations.

The Chemical Weapons Convention (1997) came into effect 26 years after the removal of the gases. Total abolition of those weapons was instituted by 2007, but America and Russia are behind and have still not stopped their manufacture.

Even though 40 years have passed since Okinawa’s efforts to remove those poisonous gases, it still remains fresh in my memory. We really need to remember the lessons that were learned then and make use of them in present times.



毒ガス移送40年 先駆的な取り組み生かせ

7月15日は本格的な毒ガス移送(2次移送)が始まってから40年を迎える。
 毒ガス問題は1969年7月の発覚から撤去が完了する71年9月まで2年2カ月を要した。
 撤去までの過程は、住民の危険など顧みず基地を自由使用する米軍に対して、直接選挙で初めて誕生した屋良朝苗主席を先頭に、県民が一つになって取り組んだ闘いそのものだ。
 基地の自由使用を揺るがしたこの出来事は、現在の基地問題を考える上で参考になる。
 まず、毒ガスを沖縄から撤去させることで世論が一致したこと。世論を背景に、琉球政府は住民避難を含め綿密な安全対策を練った。
 次に、沖縄代表が一歩も譲らず日米両政府と渡り合ったことだ。
 例えば米軍は撤去にかかる代替道路建設や補償など60万ドルを一切負担しようとしなかった。
 米国資料に屋良主席がランパート高等弁務官に詰め寄った場面が記録されている。
 「毒ガスは沖縄の人々に知らされずに持ち込まれた。撤去は沖縄側の責任ではない。米国が撤去にかかる地元の費用を一切負担しないというのは道理が通らない」
 屋良主席は、米軍だけでなく何度も日本政府に要請し続けた。
 日本政府は当初「高度の軍事機密に属するので介入は困難」として撤去に関わることを避けていた。だが、直接選挙で選ばれた主席の発言は重い。結局、本来米国が支払うべき費用を日本政府が負担する形で決着した。
 こうした毒ガスの撤去過程は、現在の米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題と重なる部分が多い。
 共通点は仲井真弘多知事をはじめ県民の多数が県外移設を求めていること。米軍が代替飛行場の建設費用を日本に負担させること。基地を沖縄に負担させ続ける日本政府の姿勢も当時と変わらない。
 沖縄の毒ガス撤去は世界的にも先駆的取り組みだ。毒ガス貯蔵が発覚したころ、国連でようやく化学兵器の禁止に向けた論議が始まっている。
 化学兵器禁止条約が発効(97年)したのは毒ガス撤去から26年後。2007年までの全廃を定めたが、米国とロシアは廃棄作業が遅れ、まだ実現していない。
 毒ガス撤去を実現した当時の沖縄側の取り組みは、40年を経過しても色あせない。大いに学び今に生かすべきだろう。
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