Demonstrators clash with Coast Guard, contractors
Well, that was worth the wait.
The first confrontation between protesters and the Japanese government featured dozens of boats, multiple helicopters, a plane, canoeists, divers and snorkelers. I saw 60 and 70 year old women take on intimidating Coast Guard patrol boats on the open sea. I have about a zillion stories already that I'm itching to tell, and if they had wireless internet at Henoko, this would be the best blog ever. As it stands, it's probably for the best that I get to save that stuff for the book.
Private contractors were attempting to complete environmental surveys, a precursor to the new base. They were met with a sit-in on land and more than they bargained for at sea:
The jeitai (Japanese Self Defense Force) has not yet shown up as expected, although there's still a two-week window where they're set to do maneuvers in Okinawa. Today the Japanese Coast Guard proved that they could be pretty imposing, too, videotaping constantly and breaking out about a half-dozen small boats. Here, they try to separate a protester from his position helping to surround a private contractor vessel:
Coast guard vessels dispatched from two huge cutters, and occasionally returned to refuel. For the most part, dialogue was cordial, due in large measure to charismatic protest leader Natsume Taira.
The canoeists, many of them older women, showed no fear. With no engines, they placed themselves in harms way between motorized boats. The first photo is the canoe flotilla encircling a contractor boat: the second and third are two of the most interesting people I've met here. That's a teaser.
Ultimately, the day was a holding action. Some of the survey sites were completed, others were blocked. The dance starts again bright and early tomorrow.
Comments
I am referring to the unprecedented forward move of the Japan Maritime Defense Force at Henoko Bay in Okinawa.
Apparently, the U.S. has found that they need not dirty their hands in the oppression and exploitation of the Okinawan people by using their "partners" historically known for their brutality.
Not only does it not matter to the government that the rich resource of the Okinawans is to be destroyed, depriving families of food and viable income, the Dugong (an endangered species