Regarding the relocation work of the U.S. military Futenma base in Okinawa off the coast of Henoko, Nago City, the prefecture requested cancellation because it was illegal involvement by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to instruct Okinawa Prefecture to allow coral transplantation in the planned landfill area. In the trial, the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court dismissed the complaint, saying that the instructions were not illegal.
Since the prefecture does not show a decision on the application for permission to transplant coral that lives in the planned landfill area, which was issued by the Okinawa Defense Bureau over the relocation work of the U.S. military Futenma base off the coast of Henoko, Nago City, the law is in charge. Instructed the prefecture to allow the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to do so.
The prefecture filed a lawsuit in July last year because it was rejected after offering to a third-party agency in the country to revoke the instructions, alleging it was illegal involvement in the country.
In the ruling on the 3rd, Judge Masamichi Okubo of the Fukuoka High Court Naha Branch said, "There are no special circumstances that justify the prefecture's failure to make a decision on transplantation, and the content of the application is appropriate and cannot be approved. It did not exist, and the way the prefecture's business proceeded was illegal. It was necessary to correct this situation, but the minister's instructions are not illegal. " ..
Since 2015, there have been a total of nine cases of trials between the prefecture and the national government over relocation work, including this time, and three of them have been defeated by the prefecture, and four have been settled. The prefecture has withdrawn the complaint.
Governor Tamaki of Okinawa "I don't understand"
After the judgment, Governor Tamaki of Okinawa Prefecture said, "The court's decision significantly limits the independence and independence of local governments, which is problematic. It is not convincing, and after scrutinizing the content of the judgment, including an appeal. We will consider how to deal with it. "
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato "Refrain from commenting"
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato said at a press conference in the afternoon, "I know that a ruling was handed down today to dismiss the request of the Governor of Okinawa, but I would like to refrain from commenting on the contents. The government will continue to gain local understanding. While continuing our efforts, we would like to make an effort to realize the full return of Futenma Air Station as soon as possible and reduce the burden on the base. "
Okinawa Defense Bureau "Please refrain from commenting"
Regarding the decision, the Okinawa Defense Bureau said, "We will refrain from commenting on the court's decision. The Okinawa Defense Bureau would like to steadily proceed with the construction for the relocation of Henoko in order to realize the full return of Futenma base as soon as possible." I made a comment saying that.