2016年11月5日土曜日

嘉陽宗義さん死去 辺野古反対訴え続け 94歳 2016/11/04

琉球新報 2016年11月4日 07:30 


 米軍普天間飛行場の移設先に辺野古案が浮上した1996年当時から、辺野古への基地建設反対の意志を示してきた。太平洋戦争で徴兵された嘉陽さんは、後輩が上官に理不尽に怒られた際、かばって自らが体罰を受けた。戦場で足を負傷し、戦争の理不尽さやむごさを体験した思いから、反戦平和を呼び掛けてきた。妻の芳子さん(88)は「正義感の強い人だった。戦争は二度とやってはいけないと言っていた。死ぬまでずっと、辺野古に基地が造られるか造られないかを心配していた。それが唯一の心残りかもしれない」と声を落とした。

 嘉陽さんは98年、命を守る会の中に高齢者でつくるグループ「ジュゴンの会」を設立し、その代表を務めた。高齢で体が不自由ながらも、車椅子で辺野古の浜のテントを何度も訪れた。稲嶺進名護市長は「辺野古の闘いの象徴の人だった。オジーの遺志をしっかりと受け継いでいく」と悼んだ。

 ヘリ基地反対協議会の安次富浩共同代表は「オジーは辺野古に絶対に基地を造らせないという意志の固まりだった。最後まで闘いたいという思いが強かった」としのんだ。

 「命を守る会」で嘉陽さんと行動を共にしてきた辺野古の西川征夫さん(72)は「20年前の決起集会や(会を)立ち上げた時の状況が頭の中に浮かぶ。最初から最後まで頑張ってくれたオジー、ご苦労さま」と声を掛けた。

英文へ→Icon of Henoko movement Muneyoshi Kayo passes away

嘉陽宗義さん死去 辺野古反対訴え続け 94歳

 

Icon of Henoko movement Muneyoshi Kayo passes away

November 4, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo


Icon of Henoko movement Muneyoshi Kayo passes away

 On December 21, at Henoko, Nago City, Muneyoshi Kayo objected to new base construction in Henoko 

At 8:45 a.m. on November 3, Muneyoshi Kayo, who was a member of sit-in protest group “Inochi wo mamoru kai,” which protests the relocation of the Futenma Air Station to Henoko, Nago, passed away at a hospital in Ginoza Village at the age of 94 due to pneumonia. Kayo was from Henoko, Nago City. The memorial service has not yet been determined. The hearse left the house at 10:45 a.m. on November 5.

Since 1996 when the relocation plan of the Futenma Air Station to Henoko emerged, Kayo has expressed his opposition to military base construction at Henoko. Kayo, who was conscripted in the Pacific War, received physical punishment after standing up for his junior, who received unreasonable blame by a military superior. Having injured his leg at war and experienced the unreasonableness and cruelty of war, Kayo campaigned against war and for peace. His wife Yoshiko says “He had a strong sense of justice. He said war should not occur ever again. Right up until he passed away, he was worried about the base being built at Henoko. It might be his only regret.”

In 1998, Kayo set up a sub-group of elders “Dugong no kai” in “Inochi wo mamoru kai” and served as a leader. Despite his age and being in a wheelchair due to physical disability, Kayo visited the tent at Henoko beach many times. Mayor Susumu Inamine of Nago City said, “He was a symbol of the Henoko struggle. I will surely pass down his will.”

Hiroshi Ashitomi of the Helicopter Base Objection Association reflected, “He had a strong will not to let the base be built in Henoko. He was willing to fight until the end.”

Ikuo Nishikawa from Henoko, who has worked with Kayo in “Inochi wo mamoru kai” recalled, “I remember the time when we established the group 20 years ago. He worked so hard from the beginning until he passed. Thank you.”

(English translation by T&CT and Megumi Chibana)

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November 4, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo