沖縄で発行されている海兵隊の週刊機関紙の３月29日号に、普天間基地と北部訓練場のゲート前で続けられている抗議行動の記事が掲載されている（上の写真の左下の記事）。
http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/OkiMar/OkiMar.html
「抗議行動が基地の返還を遅らせている」、「物を投げたり、ぶつけたりもする」などと言いたい放題だが、こんな記事を掲載せざるを得ないほど、海兵隊は、抗議行動に困り果てているのだろう。
以下、全文を掲載する。（訳文は後ほど）
OKINAWA MARINE 2013.3.29
Small protests create unsafe gate conditions
1st Lt. Jeanscott Dodd
okinawa marine staff
A protestor harasses a driver attempting to exit Marine Corps Air Station
Futenma Nov. 5, 2012. Marine Corps officials on Okinawa are making every
effort to work with local law enforcement and government officials to ensure
the safety of Marines, family members and Japanese employees entering and
exiting the air station. Photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew M. Kuppers
CAMP FOSTER — Small groups of protestors
continue to obstruct traffic and impede access to
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and the Jungle
Warfare Training Center on Camp Gonsalves,
resulting in dangerous conditions at both sites.
Protest activities at JWTC have also delayed
the single largest return of land by U.S. forces to
the government of Japan, hindering the construction
of new landing zones required to transfer
nearly 10,000 acres of land in the Northern
Training Area to the Japan government. The land
return, first slated for 2008, remains delayed due
to several protestors limiting contractors’ access
to the site.
The chief concern is the safety of Marines,
civilians, contract employees and their family
members while entering and exiting the installations,
and of the protestors themselves, according
to Tim Morello, the mission assurance director
for G-3/5, operations, training and plans, Marine
Corps Installations Pacific.
“The biggest issue is at gate three of Futenma,” said Morello. “Although
their numbers are not many, the few protestors frequently crowd the entrance
lanes and sidewalks next to where cars enter and exit the air station and block
drivers’ visibility of the public road, creating a dangerous and often blind
merge into traffic.”
Protestors also have occasionally struck and thrown objects at vehicles,
laid down in front of traffic, yelled insults at drivers using megaphones at
close proximity, and recently assaulted a civilian Marine Corps employee,
all in the view of local police officers, according to Morello.
“These activities create a dangerous situation,” said Morello. “The Ginowan
police have restrained some who were particularly aggressive and approached
cars, which in some cases had children in them, but we need cooperation
by local and prefecture law enforcement to remove protestors who create a
safety hazard.”
These issues have the attention of Marine Corps officials on Okinawa,
who are making every effort to work with the Okinawa Prefectural Police to
find solutions and ensure the safety of those entering and exiting the bases
and air station.
“I recently met with key OPP leaders to communicate our concerns about
the safety of our service members and their families, as well as the Japanese
employees and contractors that use these gates,” said Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck
Jr., the Okinawa area coordinator and commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary
Force. “Safe and unimpeded access to military installations is critical
to ensuring Marines are able to safely and successfully perform their jobs.”
The Marine Corps is committed to finding a safe solution to the issues at
the gates before the protestors’ actions cause a serious accident or injury to
Japanese citizens, military and civilian personnel, or their families, according
to Col. Jonathan D. Covington, the deputy commander of MCIPAC.
“We’re looking for consistent and effective enforcement of Japanese law, so
everyone exiting and entering the installations can go about their business
safely,” said Covington. “The actions of the protestors at JWTC are counterproductive
and have delayed the return of land to the Japanese government
for several years. In addition, they create unsafe conditions around the gates,
as protestors harass people who are transiting in and out of the center.”
In spite of the dangerous activities of the protesters, other citizen groups
have been supportive and even volunteered to remove the trash left behind
by the protesters.
“We know there are many peaceful, law-abiding, civic-minded residents
who are also concerned about the unsafe and potentially illegal activities of
the protesters,” said Col. William Truax, assistant chief of staff, G-7, government
and external affairs, MCIPAC. “They have gone out on their own to
help clean the fences at Futenma and otherwise shown their support to local
governments and police and U.S. military personnel.”
Glueck and other key Marine leaders will continue to work with local law
enforcement and government officials with one goal in mind.
“This is about the safety of everyone on this island,” said Glueck. “We
respect the rights of protestors and those exercising their freedom of speech;
however, our personnel and families have a right to transit to the bases
without being harassed and put in unsafe and dangerous situations. We’re
asking Japanese law enforcement to do its job, enforce local traffic laws, and
ensure safety.”
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