A trial in which some local fishermen sought to revoke the permission of the investigation by the prefectural governor regarding a boring investigation in the waters around Mageshima in Kagoshima Prefecture, where the construction of a Self-Defense Forces base used for training of the U.S. Forces in Japan is planned. So, the Kagoshima District Court ruled to dismiss the complaint.
The Ministry of Defense plans to build a Self-Defense Forces base on Mageshima, Nishinoomote City, Kagoshima Prefecture, as a relocation destination for takeoff and landing training for USFJ aircraft carriers, and has been conducting boring surveys in the surrounding waters since December last year.
Regarding this investigation, 16 local fishermen filed an appeal for the revocation of the permission by the prefectural governor, saying, "It is illegal for Governor Shioda of Kagoshima Prefecture to permit the investigation without the consent of the general meeting of the fishery cooperative." I was waking up.
In a ruling on the 24th, Kagoshima District Court Judge Kenjiro Furuya said, "The rules of the prefecture do not require the consent of individual fishermen to determine permission, and fishermen are not eligible to bring a trial." I dismissed the complaint as such.
This time, the period of permission for the boring investigation disputed in the trial is until this month, but the Ministry of Defense plans to extend the period by one year and will apply for permission again in the future.
The plaintiffs have said that they will not appeal because the period of this investigation will soon end, but if the prefecture approves a new investigation, they will consider re-appealing.
Plaintiff "Think about people who make a living from fishing"
At a post-judgment press conference, one of the plaintiffs, Nishinoomote fisherman Hiromitsu Banyama, said, "It's a shame. The court shouldn't think more about those who make a living by fishing on Mageshima. I think. "
Attorney Shoichi Kanno of the defense team said, "I have to say that it is outrageous because of the decision not to listen to the stories of individual fishermen."
Governor of Kagoshima Prefecture "Our claim was accepted"
Regarding the decision, Governor Shioda of Kagoshima Prefecture commented, "We do not know the details of the decision, but we believe that our allegations have been accepted."
Ministry of Defense "It is a proceeding to the prefecture and refrains from commenting."
Regarding the decision, the Ministry of Defense said, "I know that I made the decision, but it is a proceeding against Kagoshima prefecture and I refrain from commenting on the court's decision."