TOKYO (AP) – Japan resumed construction work needed to relocate a U.S. air base from one area of Okinawa’s main island to another on Thursday, overriding vigorous protests by local residents.
The land reclamation work on Henoko Bay came as police dragged away opponents of the plan who were seeking to block access to the area. Protesters also heckled workers from canoes offshore.
Local residents object to living with U.S. Marine Air Station Futenma and want the base moved out of Okinawa. Current plans call for moving it to a less developed area on the island called Henoko.
The central government in Tokyo contends that the work should be done as soon as possible to alleviate worries over safety at the air base, which is surrounded by homes, schools and other civilian facilities.
The central government had suspended the work in August to allow time for talks on a compromise. Okinawa’s governor revoked his predecessor’s approval for the plan, but that decision was overridden by the Transport Ministry.
“It’s totally dictatorial,” Gov. Takeshi Onaga, told reporters. “I will firmly fight against this.”
Onaga was elected last year on promises to fight the move.