自民県連転換 辺野古移設へ環境整備を急げ

The Yomiuri Shimbun November 30, 2013
Step up efforts to pave way for Futenma base relocation plan
自民県連転換　辺野古移設へ環境整備を急げ（11月29日付・読売社説）

An important step has been taken to resolve the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, which was left pending for a long time.
　長年の懸案である米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題を解決するうえで、重要な一歩と言える。

The step was a decision by a group of Liberal Democratic Party members of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly to approve the station’s relocation to the Henoko district in Nago after reversing its stance of pushing for relocation outside the prefecture. Five LDP Diet members belonging to the prefectural party chapter had earlier shifted their stance to back the Henoko relocation plan. The chapter will soon make a formal decision on its relocation approval policy.
　自民党の沖縄県議団が従来の「県外移設」の方針を転換し、名護市辺野古への移設を容認することを決めた。沖縄県連所属の国会議員５人も辺野古移設を容認しており、県連は近くこの方針を正式決定する。

Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima is scheduled to decide in December whether to approve a request made by the central government for a land reclamation project in public waters necessary to achieve the Henoko relocation plan.
　沖縄県の仲井真弘多知事は１２月中にも、政府が申請した辺野古移設に伴う公有水面埋め立てについて、可否を判断する予定だ。

If the plan falls through, it is highly likely to solidify the status quo, in which the danger posed by the Futenma base being located in a residential area will continue for a long period. Behind the prefectural chapter’s about-face could be its realistic judgment to avoid the worst-case scenario.
　仮に辺野古移設が頓挫すれば、住宅地にある普天間飛行場の危険な現状が長期間、固定化する公算が大きい。県連の方針転換の背景には、この最悪の状況は避けたいという現実的な判断がある。

The policy shift by the LDP’s prefectural chapter, which backs the governor as the ruling party in the prefectural assembly, is expected to push the governor to make a proactive decision on the relocation issue.
　知事与党の自民党県連が辺野古移設容認に転じたことは、知事の前向きな決断を後押ししよう。

The government and ruling parties must continue such efforts as urging New Komeito’s Okinawa prefectural headquarters to reverse its stance of opposing the Henoko relocation plan as they try to obtain approval from a wider spectrum of local people.
　政府・与党は、「県外移設」を唱える公明党県本部の翻意を促すなど、地元関係者の理解を広げる努力を続けねばなるまい。

Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine has submitted a letter of opinions to the Okinawa prefectural government, in which he argues against the reclamation plan, saying environment conservation measures are insufficient.
　移設先である名護市の稲嶺進市長は、環境保全策が不十分などとして、埋め立てに反対する意見書を沖縄県に提出した。

In addition to Inamine, two other politicians who both endorse the Futenma relocation plan have announced their candidacy for the Nago mayoral election set for January. Like the past four mayoral elections, the biggest issue is likely to be the relocation.
　来年１月の名護市長選には、稲嶺市長と、辺野古移設を容認する２氏が出馬表明している。過去４回の市長選と同様、移設の是非が最大の争点となる見通しだ。

Security a matter of state

In the first place, national security should not be influenced by the outcome of a local election. Although it is necessary to give due consideration to the will of local residents, the central government should be primarily responsible for security policies based on a comprehensive view.
　日本の安全保障が一地方選の結果に左右される事態は本来、あってはならない。地元の民意は十分勘案すべき要素であっても、安保政策は、政府が総合判断し、責任を持つべきものだからだ。

The mayor is not authorized to refuse the relocation plan, but to promote the plan smoothly, it is desirable to obtain the mayor’s approval. The LDP should step up efforts to make the two pro-relocation candidates to form an alliance and have just one run.
　市長に移設を拒否する権限はないが、移設を円滑に進めるには無論、市長が容認している方が望ましい。自民党は、容認派の２人の一本化を急ぐべきだろう。

The government, for its part, needs to make all-out efforts to have Nakaima give reclamation the green light before the election.
　政府も、仲井真知事が市長選前に埋め立てを承認できる環境整備に全力を挙げる必要がある。

It is essential to accelerate the efforts to decrease the prefecture’s burden for hosting the U.S. military.
　重要なのは、沖縄県の米軍基地負担の軽減を加速することだ。

The Japanese and U.S. governments will soon lift a ban on partial fishing operations in the waters used by the U.S. military for training. It is also important to steadily expand training areas for the new U.S. Osprey transport aircraft outside Okinawa Prefecture.
　日米両政府は近く、米軍の訓練海域における漁船操業の一部を解禁する。新型輸送機オスプレイの訓練の県外移転も、着実に拡大することが大切である。

If the Futenma relocation plan gets moving, it will give momentum to the transfer of U.S. marines in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam and the return of U.S. military facilities to Japan.
　普天間飛行場の移設が動き出せば、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転や米軍施設返還にも弾みがつく。

Efforts must also be made to promote prefectural development.
　沖縄振興にも力を入れたい。

The Cabinet Office has asked for a budgetary allocation of ¥340.8 billion for fiscal 2014, up 13 percent over the current fiscal year. The government should think hard to work out more effective local revitalization policies, such as establishing national strategy special zones and effective utilization of U.S. base sites.
　内閣府は来年度予算で、今年度より１３％も多い３４０８億円を要求している。国家戦略特区の創設や基地跡地の有効活用など、より効果的な地域活性化策となるよう大いに知恵を絞るべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 29, 2013)
（2013年11月29日01時32分 読売新聞）