News from the Peace For Okinawa Coalition

In 1998 the CIA removed University of Hawaii professor Gary Fuller from a major academic study due to his views on China. The CIA at the time believed that China would break apart within three years, while Fuller believed this was unlikely. Academic freedom is supposed to be a hallmark of democracy, yet the CIA clearly violated this principle. 

Even in 1998, the CIA was predicting the fall of China, and in particular believed that Xinjiang would split off and become an independent nation. More than 20 years later, China is very much still intact and prosperous. 

Newcomer Kunio Arakaki of the Social Democratic Party has been elected to the House of Representatives for Okinawa District 2. This is another major victory for the All-Okinawa Coalition, which opposes the construction of the U.S. military base at Henoko, Okinawa. Arakaki is a newcomer in the race for the House of Representatives. He previously served as mayor of Kitanakagusuku Village. 

Arakaki secured the victory over Masahisa Miyazaki, backed by Japan's wealthy Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) which heavily oppresses Uchinanchu (Indigenous Okinawans). The LDP supports the illegal U.S. and Japanese military occupation of Luchu / Okinawa. 

Arakaki is the successor of Kantoku Teruya, a long-time Okinawan Congressional Representative and independence supporter, who recently retired. 

Seiken Akamine of the Communist Party has won the House of Representatives election for District 1 in Okinawa. This is an important victory for the All-Okinawa Coalition opposed to the U.S. military base at Henoko, Okinawa. 

A new article published by Reuters and syndicated by South China Morning Post: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has come to an agreement with China to upgrade their relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership."

Luchu (Okinawa) has a close, historic relationship with Southeast Asia, sharing many similar cultural influences. During the 14th - 16th centuries Luchu served as the primary facilitator of trade in Southeast Asia, forming the basis for a thriving network of commerce and cultural exchange. 

Video from the event can be viewed on Tusanaje's Facebook page:

​https://www.facebook.com/tusanaje/videos/474656737131528/

Okinawans are outraged over the poisoning of our water by the United States military.

For at least the past five years the Okinawa Prefectural Government has been monitoring the amount of foreign substances in Okinawa's water. In 2016 Okinawans discovered high levels of toxic chemicals originating from U.S. Kadena Air Base in the drinking water of the densely populated region of central Okinawa, home to some 450,000 people (ANN News). The chemicals are referred to as PFOS, PFAS, and PFOA, and are linked to a plethora of serious health problems, including cancer, reproductive issues, stunted development, immune diseases, cardiovascular problems, and hepatic issues, among others (CDC). They are referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not breakdown and instead accumulate over time (EPA).

Then on August 26, 2021 the U.S. military intentionally released contaminated water into the sewage system without the knowledge of Okinawan or Japanese government officials, who only learned of the release after it had begun. The U.S. military claimed they had treated the water to “all but eliminate PFAS contamination (Burke and Higa),” reporting that the level of PFOS in the water was under 2.7 nanograms per liter. However, Okinawan government officials revealed the number of PFOS to be at 670 nanograms per liter – far higher than what the U.S. had claimed. Safe levels of foreign substances in water should be kept below 50 nanograms per liter according to Japanese government guidelines (Asahi Shimbun). 

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Without access to clean water Okinawans are outraged, calling this genocide. Fear has spread across Okinawa, especially among those in the central part of the island where the water has been contaminated, including myself and my family. The U.S. military has a long history, from 1945 to the present, of major human rights violations against Okinawans, including hundreds of instances of rape, murder, aircraft crashes that killed or injured civilians, environmental destruction, pollution, economic devastation, and land theft forcing people to relocate from their homes. However, the deliberate poisoning of Okinawa's water has brought a new type of stressor, knowing that we can no longer drink our own tap water without risk of major life-threatening health problems. After all, even U.S. government agencies such as the CDC and EPA acknowledge the harm caused by these chemicals. 


Given the U.S. military's history of chronic lying, few Okinawans believe the water is safe to drink. Many of my neighbors, family, and friends have had to resort to buying bottled water, which is a significant burden given Okinawa's low average income and high poverty rates (Okinawa Prefectural Government). Many parents no longer allow their children to drink tap water. Some people have resorted to drinking boiled water, unaware that the military's toxins cannot be removed by this method and causes them to become more dangerous. 


However, drinking water is not our only concern, and there are many more questions that need to be answered. Are we being contaminated when we bathe or shower at home, or swim in the ocean or streams? Are the crops of Okinawa's farmers also contaminated? This appears likely given the EPA's warnings. And what about Okinawa's seafood? The EPA states that fish and other living organisms can also be infected and carry PFAS. 

Happy World Uchinanchu Day!
世界うちなーんちゅぬ日でーびる！
世界琉球人的日快乐！

The cost of gas in Okinawa has reached its highest mark since 2008, at 170.7 yen per liter. This is another burden for Uchinanchu (Indigenous Okinawans), who already suffer from economic hardship caused by the ongoing illegal occupation by the United States and Japan.

Most of Asia is heavily reliant on trains or other forms of public transportation, reducing the need for automobiles. However, since World War II the U.S. and Japan have intentionally built Okinawa as a car-dependent society, which is yet another form of discrimination against Okinawans. 

Uchinanchu (Indigenous Okinawan) twitter user @harunayakanonry has identified fliers created and disseminated by Japanese right-wing ultranationalists slandering Uchinanchu political leaders, including Representative Tomohiro Yara and Governor Denny Tamaki. The slander includes unfounded accusations of sexual harassment and abuse of power. Neither Yara nor Tamaki has ever been accused of any type of harassment or abuse of power by a credible source. Both are strongly supported by the Okinawan people, due in part to their opposition to the U.S. military bases. 

The slander comes amid a midterm election in Okinawa. Japan has an extensive history of attempting to manipulate Okinawan elections in a pro-Japanese / U.S. direction. 

Attempts by the Japanese to spread blatant lies about Uchinanchu leaders is harassment on the part of Japan, and is a human rights violation. Uchinanchu are the Indigenous peoples of Okinawa, recognized as such by the United Nations. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples legally protects Uchinanchu from all forms of harassment, including slander. Individuals, organizations, and nations around the world must immediately act to support Okinawan / Ryukyuan rights from U.S. and Japanese abuse.