DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 08/19/08

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