VZCZCXRO3686
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2285/01 2320750
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190750Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6687
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 1824
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 9462
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 3201
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 7613
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 0042
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4967
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0957
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1295
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 TOKYO 002285
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA;
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION;
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN,
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR;
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 08/19/08
INDEX:
(1) Uruma City Assembly adopts second resolution in two weeks
protesting port call by nuclear-powered submarine following
radiation leak (Okinawa Times)
(2) Okinawa Defense Bureau predicts WECPNL around planned heliport
facility in Henoko would be 75 (Ryukyu Shimpo)
(3) Editorial: Pressing criminal charges against Sea Shepherd
members for obstructing whaling only natural (Asahi)
(4) Minister Nakayama in interview indicates possibility of breaking
deadlock in abduction talks (Yomiuri)
ARTICLES:
(1) Uruma City Assembly adopts second resolution in two weeks
protesting port call by nuclear-powered submarine following
radiation leak
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 2) (Full)
August 19, 2008
Uruma
The Uruma City Assembly (chaired by Toshio Shimabukuro), holding a
special meeting on August 18, unanimously adopted a protest
resolution and a draft opinion letter opposing the entry into and
berthing at White Beach in Katsuren in the city on August 13 by the
USS Columbus, a U.S. Navy Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered
submarine, while seeking clear explanations by organizations
concerned.
The protest resolution is addressed to the U.S. Secretary of
Defense, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, U.S. Forces Japan commander and
others. The opinion letter is addressed to the heads of the two Diet
chambers, prime minister, foreign minister, Okinawa governor, and
others. The protest resolution denounces the Columbus's port call at
White Beach before the cause of the leak of cooling water containing
radioactive substances by the USS Houston, a nuclear-powered
submarine of the same type, is determined, as "an act that tramples
on the feelings of local residents and is utterly impermissible."
In the wake of the Houston's accident, the assembly had just adopted
a protest resolution on August 11 expressing opposition to its port
call and calling for the determination of the cause of the accident.
The protest resolution adopted yesterday expresses opposition to the
port call, while urging the organizations concerned to make efforts
to drastically revise the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement,
saying that the assembly "feels strong resentment at the latest port
call by a nuclear-powered submarine in defiance of the voices of
people of the city and the prefecture."
(2) Okinawa Defense Bureau predicts WECPNL around planned heliport
facility in Henoko would be 75
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full)
August 19, 2008
Members of the Okinawa prefectural assembly's special committee on
U.S. bases, chaired by Kiyoko Tokashiki, made an inspection of Camp
TOKYO 00002285 002 OF 004
Schwab in Henoko, Nago City, and they were briefed by the Okinawa
Defense Bureau on the site to which the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma
Air Station will be relocated. According to Tokashiki, based on the
data of noise levels of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft at
Futenma Air Station, the Defense Bureau predicted that the WECPNL,
which stands for Weighted Equivalent Continuous Perceived Noise
Level, around the replacement facility of the Futenma base would be
70-75.
Regarding the bureau's prediction of the WECPNL around the alternate
facility, Tokashiki pointed out:
"It is strange for the bureau to predict the WECPNL without showing
us the types of helicopters and aircraft to be deployed at the new
facility. Since not only helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft but
also other vehicles will be deployed, 75 is too low."
According to Tokashiki, the bureau told them that it had conducted
research on the seaweed bed for dugongs the same day. She expressed
concern, saying: "Is one year of research enough?"
Tokashiki and her committee members confirmed the exposed layer of
red clay on the developed land caused by the construction of new
Army barracks at Camp Schwab. The bureau explained that based on the
prefecture's ordinances, it would take measures to prevent the
outflow of red clay.
(3) Editorial: Pressing criminal charges against Sea Shepherd
members for obstructing whaling only natural
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full)
August 19, 2008
The antiwhaling group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has often
obstructed Japanese research whalers' activities in the Southern
Ocean. Japanese police have finally decided to establish a criminal
case against its members.
The Metropolitan Police Department has obtained arrest warrants for
three American and British members of the organization on suspicion
of forcible obstruction of business. They are suspected to have
transferred themselves to a dinghy and thrown flares onto the deck
of the research whaler Kaiko Maru of the Institute of Cetacean
Research and a rope into the sea, which coiled around the vessel's
screw in February 2007.
Sea Shepherd was established in 1977 under the banner of protecting
wildlife, including whales. Headquartered in the United States, the
organization has been run by donations from around the world. The
group is trying to attract international attention by showing its
use of force via TV and the Internet.
Not limited to animal protection, freedom of expression must be
respected anywhere on the globe. But if the charges against them are
true, their acts clearly went beyond freedom of expression. There is
every reason for the police to press charges against them based on
the law.
Sea Shepherd has intensified its interference even after this
incident. Boarding and tossing bottles containing liquids at another
Japanese research vessel this year, some Sea Shepherd members have
inflicted minor injuries to its crewmembers.
TOKYO 00002285 003 OF 004
In reaction to such obstructive acts, the International Whaling
Commission (IWC), which also includes antiwhaling countries, has
released a unanimous statement condemning the group, reading, "Any
act jeopardizing human lives or property is impermissible."
Sea Shepherd's radical activities have drawn fire even from other
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). In the event authorities make
serious mistakes, such as a violation of human rights, Western NGOs
take action without fear of facing criminal charges. At the same
time, they make a clear distinction between the use of force that is
acceptable to society and acts of violence that harm people. Sea
Shepherd is being criticized because it has crossed that line.
The police plan to put the three individuals on an international
wanted list. We would like to see countries in addition to the
United States and South Korea, with which Japan has extradition
treaties, cooperate in transferring custody of the three.
There exists a deep gulf over the whaling issue that has resulted in
a series of incidents. Whaling countries, including Japan, regard
whales as a resource for food and other products, whereas
antiwhaling countries, including the United States, Australia, and
many European countries, consider whales to be wildlife that needs
to be protected. Increasing radical acts by antiwhaling
organizations have been backed by such antiwhaling sentiment.
The subject of pressing criminal charges must not be linked to the
question of the propriety of whaling. An investigation viewed as a
crackdown on antiwhaling activities might draw unnecessary protests
from antiwhaling countries.
If Japan is to continue whaling, the country needs to persistently
make the case that whaling is part of a culture that does not run
counter to the protection of resources.
(4) Minister Nakayama in interview indicates possibility of breaking
deadlock in abduction talks
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
August 17, 2008
The Yomiuri Shimbun interviewed Kyoko Nakayama, minister of state
for the declining birthrate, gender equality, the abduction issue,
and official document management, who formerly served as special
advisor to the prime minister on the abduction issue, to hear her
views on the agreement reached in working-level talks between Japan
and North Korea that the DPRK will reinvestigate the issue of its
abductions of Japanese nationals, as well as on future challenges.
-- How do you view the results of the Japan-North Korea
working-level talks?
Kyoko Nakayama: The biggest point is that changing its previous
position that the abduction issue has been resolved, North Korea
agreed to carry out a full investigation into its abductions of
Japanese nationals in order to find surviving Japanese abductees and
to have survivors return home. I think there is a possibility that
the abduction issue will enter a new phase with the North's decision
to reinvestigate the abduction cases.
-- What are challenges now that an agreement has been reached?
TOKYO 00002285 004 OF 004
Nakayama: We need to ascertain whether North Korea will report the
truth to us and whether a North Korean reinvestigation panel will be
given real authority. Although the agreement says that North Korea
will report to Japan and hold talks whenever necessary,
consultations are still needed.
-- Will Japan resume sanctions after lifting them if it judges the
North's reinvestigation is insufficient?
Nakayama: Since North Korea agreed to report any progress in the
probe to Japan and hold talks whenever necessary, in general terms
it is normal to resume sanctions (if the probe is insufficient) even
before the reinvestigation is completed.
-- Some members of the families of victims of kidnapped to North
Korea are concerned that you will be unable to concentrate on the
abduction issue, since you concurrently serve as minister for the
declining birthrate.
Nakayama: I will not neglect the abduction issue even though I am in
charge of other issues. Since the government considers the
abductions a priority issue, I want to persuade North Korea by using
all possible measures.
-- Some have contended that the role of abduction minister is
ambiguous.
Nakayama: The abduction minister's job is to resolve the abduction
issue while coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies. I
will carry out my duty in cooperation also with the Foreign
Ministry. The government will deal with the issue in unison.
-- You are in charge of the falling birthrate and official document
management, areas in which you have little experience. Are you
concerned?
Nakayama: I am not at all concerned. Since the declining birthrate
is an immediate problem, Japan has to come up with measures for its
future. I have thought that official document management is also a
theme that should be worked out. I will do my best to deal with
those issues.
SCHIEFFER