Protesters stage a rally against the U.S. military outside Camp Schwab on Janauary 9, 2017 in Nago, Okinawa, Japan. (Photo: Richard Atrero de Guzman/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Jul 13, 2020
Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki slammed the U.S. military over the weekend for not taking sufficient action to prevent the spread of Covid-19 after dozens of Marines stationed on the Japanese island tested positive, threatening to spark a large outbreak in a community where the virus has otherwise been well-contained.
Tamaki said during a press conference Saturday that "Okinawans are shocked" by the surge in cases among American Marines on the island. The Associated Pressreported that the U.S. military only disclosed the number of cases among U.S. Marines after Okinawan officials repeatedly demanded transparency.
"We now have strong doubts that the U.S. military has taken adequate disease prevention measures."
--Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki
The U.S. Marine Corps reported 94 confirmed Covid-19 infections since July 7 Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Camp Hansen, American military bases that ordinary Okinawans have wanted removed for years. Excluding cases among U.S. Marines, Okinawa has reported just 153 coronavirus cases since February.
"It is extremely regrettable that the infections are rapidly spreading among U.S. personnel when we Okinawans are doing our utmost to contain the infections," said Tamaki. "We now have strong doubts that the U.S. military has taken adequate disease prevention measures."
Around 20,000 U.S. troops are stationed at more than 30 locations on Okinawa. While it is not known how the U.S. personnel were infected, Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported Saturday that local officials were concerned "about a sudden spike of infections because he saw many U.S. military service members wandering around outside the bases on the Fourth of July."
"We have raised the level of warning because we believe that infections are already spreading within our community," said Mayor Masaharu Noguni of Chatan, Okinawa.
\u201cUS bases hold 4th of July parties and end up with 60+ cases of covid; there was a point when Okinawa had no new cases for several days prior to this\nhttps://t.co/AIbJZxGfO1\u201d— Jan Mitsuko Cash \ud83e\udded \u30b8\u30a7\u30f3\u30fb\u5149\u5b50\u30fb\u30ad\u30e3\u30c3\u30b7\u30e5 (@Jan Mitsuko Cash \ud83e\udded \u30b8\u30a7\u30f3\u30fb\u5149\u5b50\u30fb\u30ad\u30e3\u30c3\u30b7\u30e5) 1594628069
As the New York Timesreported Monday, the new Covid-19 cases in Okinawa "are a new strain on relations between the military and the local government, where the presence of American bases, dating to the end of World War II, has been an ongoing source of friction."
"Citizens have long complained of noise, crime, and aircraft accidents, and have repeatedly questioned why nearly half of the 55,000 American troops in Japan--which include personnel from all of the military branches--are stationed on Okinawa," the Times noted.
Tomonari Kiyuna, a worker at a noodle shop in Chatan, told the Times that he is "scared" by the surge in coronavirus infections among U.S. troops.
"We're very careful, wearing masks, washing hands, and sanitizing," Kiyuna said. "I want them to disclose the information. They are Americans but they are staying in Okinawa, Japan. Okinawans or the Japanese people have the right to know."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki slammed the U.S. military over the weekend for not taking sufficient action to prevent the spread of Covid-19 after dozens of Marines stationed on the Japanese island tested positive, threatening to spark a large outbreak in a community where the virus has otherwise been well-contained.
Tamaki said during a press conference Saturday that "Okinawans are shocked" by the surge in cases among American Marines on the island. The Associated Pressreported that the U.S. military only disclosed the number of cases among U.S. Marines after Okinawan officials repeatedly demanded transparency.
"We now have strong doubts that the U.S. military has taken adequate disease prevention measures."
--Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki
The U.S. Marine Corps reported 94 confirmed Covid-19 infections since July 7 Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Camp Hansen, American military bases that ordinary Okinawans have wanted removed for years. Excluding cases among U.S. Marines, Okinawa has reported just 153 coronavirus cases since February.
"It is extremely regrettable that the infections are rapidly spreading among U.S. personnel when we Okinawans are doing our utmost to contain the infections," said Tamaki. "We now have strong doubts that the U.S. military has taken adequate disease prevention measures."
Around 20,000 U.S. troops are stationed at more than 30 locations on Okinawa. While it is not known how the U.S. personnel were infected, Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported Saturday that local officials were concerned "about a sudden spike of infections because he saw many U.S. military service members wandering around outside the bases on the Fourth of July."
"We have raised the level of warning because we believe that infections are already spreading within our community," said Mayor Masaharu Noguni of Chatan, Okinawa.
\u201cUS bases hold 4th of July parties and end up with 60+ cases of covid; there was a point when Okinawa had no new cases for several days prior to this\nhttps://t.co/AIbJZxGfO1\u201d— Jan Mitsuko Cash \ud83e\udded \u30b8\u30a7\u30f3\u30fb\u5149\u5b50\u30fb\u30ad\u30e3\u30c3\u30b7\u30e5 (@Jan Mitsuko Cash \ud83e\udded \u30b8\u30a7\u30f3\u30fb\u5149\u5b50\u30fb\u30ad\u30e3\u30c3\u30b7\u30e5) 1594628069
As the New York Timesreported Monday, the new Covid-19 cases in Okinawa "are a new strain on relations between the military and the local government, where the presence of American bases, dating to the end of World War II, has been an ongoing source of friction."
"Citizens have long complained of noise, crime, and aircraft accidents, and have repeatedly questioned why nearly half of the 55,000 American troops in Japan--which include personnel from all of the military branches--are stationed on Okinawa," the Times noted.
Tomonari Kiyuna, a worker at a noodle shop in Chatan, told the Times that he is "scared" by the surge in coronavirus infections among U.S. troops.
"We're very careful, wearing masks, washing hands, and sanitizing," Kiyuna said. "I want them to disclose the information. They are Americans but they are staying in Okinawa, Japan. Okinawans or the Japanese people have the right to know."
Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki slammed the U.S. military over the weekend for not taking sufficient action to prevent the spread of Covid-19 after dozens of Marines stationed on the Japanese island tested positive, threatening to spark a large outbreak in a community where the virus has otherwise been well-contained.
Tamaki said during a press conference Saturday that "Okinawans are shocked" by the surge in cases among American Marines on the island. The Associated Pressreported that the U.S. military only disclosed the number of cases among U.S. Marines after Okinawan officials repeatedly demanded transparency.
"We now have strong doubts that the U.S. military has taken adequate disease prevention measures."
--Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki
The U.S. Marine Corps reported 94 confirmed Covid-19 infections since July 7 Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Camp Hansen, American military bases that ordinary Okinawans have wanted removed for years. Excluding cases among U.S. Marines, Okinawa has reported just 153 coronavirus cases since February.
"It is extremely regrettable that the infections are rapidly spreading among U.S. personnel when we Okinawans are doing our utmost to contain the infections," said Tamaki. "We now have strong doubts that the U.S. military has taken adequate disease prevention measures."
Around 20,000 U.S. troops are stationed at more than 30 locations on Okinawa. While it is not known how the U.S. personnel were infected, Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported Saturday that local officials were concerned "about a sudden spike of infections because he saw many U.S. military service members wandering around outside the bases on the Fourth of July."
"We have raised the level of warning because we believe that infections are already spreading within our community," said Mayor Masaharu Noguni of Chatan, Okinawa.
\u201cUS bases hold 4th of July parties and end up with 60+ cases of covid; there was a point when Okinawa had no new cases for several days prior to this\nhttps://t.co/AIbJZxGfO1\u201d— Jan Mitsuko Cash \ud83e\udded \u30b8\u30a7\u30f3\u30fb\u5149\u5b50\u30fb\u30ad\u30e3\u30c3\u30b7\u30e5 (@Jan Mitsuko Cash \ud83e\udded \u30b8\u30a7\u30f3\u30fb\u5149\u5b50\u30fb\u30ad\u30e3\u30c3\u30b7\u30e5) 1594628069
As the New York Timesreported Monday, the new Covid-19 cases in Okinawa "are a new strain on relations between the military and the local government, where the presence of American bases, dating to the end of World War II, has been an ongoing source of friction."
"Citizens have long complained of noise, crime, and aircraft accidents, and have repeatedly questioned why nearly half of the 55,000 American troops in Japan--which include personnel from all of the military branches--are stationed on Okinawa," the Times noted.
Tomonari Kiyuna, a worker at a noodle shop in Chatan, told the Times that he is "scared" by the surge in coronavirus infections among U.S. troops.
"We're very careful, wearing masks, washing hands, and sanitizing," Kiyuna said. "I want them to disclose the information. They are Americans but they are staying in Okinawa, Japan. Okinawans or the Japanese people have the right to know."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.