UN Panel questions Tokyo's Okinawa policy, citing human rights violations

Via Mainichi, "U.N. panel on racial discrimination to question Japan gov't over Okinawa policy":

Pointing out that the Futenma relocation plan and the planned construction of helipads in Higashison-Takae in Okinawa -- part of a bilateral deal to return part of the U.S. training ground -- could infringe on the racism convention, in its questionnaire the U.N. panel asks the Japanese government how it plans to respond to the voices of local residents.

Background from Jen Teeter's post on Shimin Gaikou actions leading to this latest, "Ainu and Okinawan Human Rights- United Nations Forum on indigenous issues":

The report also urges the Japanese government to abrogate its proposal to construct a U.S. military base in Henoko and Oura Bay, the ecologically fragile habitat of the Okinawan dugong, and six new helipads in Takae.

Second, regarding the Ryukyuan/Okinawan people, the Government of Japan has not implemented the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which call on the government to recognize Ryukyuan/Okinawan people as an indigenous people. As a result, as reported by UN Special Rapporteur Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Doudou Diene, the heavy presence of the U.S. military bases in Okinawa remains as a form of discrimination against the people of Okinawa. At present, two new military base construction proposalss are being carried out under the agreement between the governments of Japan and the U.S., despite the longtime opposition from local indigenous peoples’ communities.

And more at this earlier post: "Ainu and Okinawan Human Rights- UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination recommendations to Japan"