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On October 8, Prime Minister (DPJ President) Yukio Hatoyama responded to a reporter’s question regarding media reports which stated he had made comments indicating he accepted shifting the location of Futenma airbase to another location within Okinawa prefecture. He emphatically denied making such comments, stating, “I have not spoken even one word to that effect.”
He added, “The most important thing is to acknowledge the consensus among the residents of Okinawa prefecture and bearing that in mind, engage in negotiations with the US side. However, on the other hand, agreement has already been reached with the US [under the previous administration] and the question is how to reconcile [residents’ needs] with this. However, this is a coalition government that was launched following an agreement between the three coalition parties, and so the question is how to reach a conclusion based on the terms of this agreement.”
Hatoyama went on, “Is the agreement reached by the previous administration [to move the facility to a location in the coastal part of Camp Schwab] really the best, or the only option? We will explore a variety of options, and reach a conclusion that can be understood by the residents of Okinawa.”
Furthermore, Hatoyama responded to a question regarding the convening of the administration’s Tax Commission following the abolition of the DPJ’s internal tax committee, saying, “It is symbolic of our intention to unite the policy decision-making process [under the administration] and an epoch-making event. I hope that [the Commission] will be able to come to speedy conclusions through discussions free of lobbying and vested interests. I would like you all to observe that process.”
In response to a question regarding the publication by the Council for Decentralisation Reform of its 3rd recommendation, Hatoyama said, “It is wonderful. I regard it as an asset for us. The 1st and 2nd recommendations of the Council were blocked by the bureaucratic wall. The 3rd recommendation does not require funding, and is a proposal to eliminate the restrictions that central government places on the regions, so I think that it is something that is easy for people living in the regions to understand. It is a recommendation that will increase the freedom of the regions.” He added that he intended to make good use of the recommendation and through that enable the public to see the new administration’s commitment to promoting decentralisation and the creation of a state that encourages regional sovereignty.
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