TOKYO, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- A Japanese court on Friday ruled against moves made by Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga aimed at blocking the work necessary for the central government's plans to relocate a controversial U.S. Marine base within the prefecture, with the standoff now likely to go to the Supreme Court.
The Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court adjudged that Onaga's revocation of a landfill permit last October previously granted by his predecessor was "illegal."
The permit was central to work necessary to the central government's plans to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from the crowded residential area of Ginowan to the less populated coastal area of Nago in Henoko, also on the island.
The court while also finding that Onaga's subsequent rejection of the government's calls to scrap the revocation were also against the law, said that the authorization for the land reclamation by former Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima in 2013 was "legal."
The central and prefectural government have been locked in a fierce standoff over the issue, with both sides suing and counter suing each other over the matter, leading to a court mandated settlement in March this year.
On Friday, Presiding Judge Toshiro Tamiya said there is no choice but to reclaim land at the coastal site to build the new U.S. mega facility, with its two huge V-shaped runways being built on the reclaimed land, as the move presents the safest option and one that may ultimately help ease the base-hosting burdens of the locals.
According to local media, Tamiya also said that the issuance of a landfill permit is valid even after the local Okinawans' feelings have been taken into consideration.
Okinawans are staunchly opposed to the move and want to see the base located off their island or out of Japan entirely.
Onaga on receiving the verdict vowed to contest the decision in the Supreme Court, meaning a final ruling of the highest order may be made within the current fiscal year.
"This ruling is a decision that excessively takes the side of the central government and tramples on Okinawa people's feelings," Onaga told a local press briefing.
Blasting the local court for simply complying with the central government's wishes, Onaga pledged "I will seek to repeal this unjust high court ruling."
The latest ruling will come as blow to Onaga and the people of Okinawa who feel overburdened with hosting the bulk of U.S. military facilities on their tiny island.
The island comprises just a fraction of Japan's total landmass, but the locals have to endure serious instances of ongoing noise and air pollution as well as consistent slew of violent crimes against them committed by U.S. military-linked personnel.
The landfill work will remain halted until the Supreme Court's ruling.
The central government initially inked an accord with the United States to relocate the base and return the land, but the building of a replacement facility has incensed the prefectural government and local citizens.
While the prefectural government on Friday agreed to comply with the final ruling, it will certainly pull out all the stops to find other ways to block the replacement facility's construction, Onaga intimated Friday.
