Oct 26, 2010

 

To:         Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka

              US Naval Base

Tomari-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa

From:    HIKAKU SHIMIN SENGEN UNDO gYOKOSUKAh iPeople's Declaration of No Nuclear "Yokosuka"j

YOKOSUKA PEACE SQUADRON  

              Yamamoto-Bldg 2F

3-14, Hon-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Phone & Fax No:             046-825-0157

 

Dear sir,

We would like to draw your immediate and serious attention to the incidence described below.

 

On Sept 26, we, Yokosuka Peace Squadron, held our monthly protest rally on the sea (see the attachment 1). The US police boat unjustifiably obstructed our rally, to which we urged them to stop. They ignored our strong request and continued their obstruction to the effect touching (or rightly striking) our boat (see the attachment 2). It was at the center of Yokosuka Port where our boat was struck. The city of Yokosuka has the jurisdiction over the area and US Navy cannot exercise their authority there. This clearly means that US Navy has committed unauthorized act and violated the Japanese sovereignty. Our rally on the sea is lawful act of expression, and any conduct blocking our rally is unlawful obstruction of the freedom and democracy.

 

 Obstructing activities have become ever more intolerable after the incidences of the suicidal terrorism activities against the US warship in Africa in 2000 and 9.11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Accident hurting our conducts in the port became serious, and at last, in 2004, the wire supporting the mast of our yacht gOMUSUBI-MARUh was cut off during the rally held on Oct 31. Authority has reached the verdict that US Navy is 100% liable to this accident (see the attachment 3).

 

We had a meeting with US Navy on the accident. An officer of the deck told that he has given the instruction not to unnecessarily get close to the boat in the rally. He also confirmed that a boat should be able to travel freely in the restricted water unless the boat needs to stop due to a reason excluding engine trouble (see the attachment 4). Despite of his instruction, obstruction soon re-started and still continues.

On July 12 2008, when OMUSUBI-MARU travelled close to Yoshikura-Sanbashi during one of the port tours, a US Navy police boat obstructed our proceeding, loudly announcing gNo, No, You cannot go there!h, circulating around our boat prohibiting our proceeding forward. For unforeseen contingency, we reluctantly contacted Japan Coast Guard (see the attachment 5).

 

 In the Aug 2010 rally on the water, when our boat travelled close to the 8th and 9th berths, the US Navy police boat, blaring siren and with various extremely loud noises, intimidated our rally.

 

 There is no doubt that US Navy police boat is committing unlawful acts. We seriously wonder if the navy mistakenly understands that the Yokosuka port comes under the jurisdiction of the US Navy. The conducts of US Navy leave us wonder no other but such. We seriously wonder if education in the Navy does ever include the study about the agreements between the two governments, Japan and US, as well as the law of port. If it does not, the commanderfs responsibility must be seriously reviewed.

 

 We demand the thorough execution of the followings in order to stop the US Navy unjustified obstruction with our rally, so that our people will not have to experience obstruction.

1.               To thoroughly educate the police boat staff about the rules of the port of Yokosuka

2.               To stop intimidation on and prevent obstruction of the boats travelling 50 yards from the shore in order for the boats to travel freely

 

Respectfully,

Yokosuka Peace Squadron

 

encl.