December 12, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition
In the case the Japanese government has brought against the Okinawa prefectural government regarding Governor Takeshi Onaga’s cancellation of approval to reclaim land in Henoko, the Supreme Court on December 12 set the decision date for December 20. With the decision date set before the arguments have opened in this appeal, the prefectural government’s loss in this case appears to be a foregone conclusion. This is a bleak outcome for the Onaga administration in its efforts to obstruct construction of a replacement facility in Henoko, and will have a significant effect on the dispute from here on out.
Governor Onaga has expressed that he will abide by the court’s final decision, and seems ready to withdraw his cancellation of the landfill permit. This will revive the legal basis for the Japanese government to resume construction work on the new base. However, he is unchanged in his stance to exhaust all methods to obstruct new base construction in Henoko. As such, the outcome of the relocation issue is still uncertain.
During the first trial at the Naha Branch of the Fukuoka High Court, on September 16 the court found Governor Onaga’s cancellation of approval to reclaim land to be illegal, in line with and overall recognizing the claims of the Japanese government. The prefectural government was dissatisfied with the ruling, and appealed on September 23.
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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Prefectural government’s loss in Henoko appeal imminent with December 20 decision date
December 12, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition辺野古訴訟、沖縄県の敗訴が事実上確定 判決２０日に決定
2016年12月12日 15:26
翁長知事は「確定判決には従う」と述べており、最高裁判決後にも埋め立て承認取り消しを“取り消す”見通しとなった。国が新基地建設工事を再開する法的根拠が復活する。一方、翁長知事は敗訴した場合でも「あらゆる手法」で辺野古新基地建設を阻止する姿勢は変わらないとしており、移設問題の行方は不透明な情勢が続く。
不作為の違法確認訴訟の一審・福岡高裁那覇支部は９月１６日、翁長知事による承認取り消しは違法だとして、同取り消しの違法性の確認を求めていた国の主張を全面的に認める判決を出した。県は判決を不服として、同２３日に上告していた。
【琉球新報電子版】
英文へ→Prefectural government’s loss in Henoko appeal imminent with December 20 decision date
