Evacuation by troops

Credit: Okinawa Prefectural Government

After "Treaty of Peace with Japan" a come into effect, military bases were constructed immediately. But there was no reason that Okinawa residents didn't protect their land from the U.S. Military. But it was rather plunder than requisition as it was called "land requisition by bayonet and bulldozer"

For example, the case of Isahama village(now, Ginowan city)was like this:

 

Destroyed house in Isahama

Credit: Okinawa Prefectural Government

In July 1954, the U.S. Military informed prohibition of farming. At first, they said it was not for requisition, but for the hygene problem due to the mosquitors in the rice fields. But later, they ordered eviction. Farmers, residents and the Ryukyu government(okinawa assembly) made petitions but U.S. Military wouldn't listen. In March 1955, the U.S. Military decided compulsory requisition of certain areas of Isahama, and there was an armed a conflict between the Military Police and the farmers sitting in.

 

Women protest

Credit: Okinawa Prefectural Government

After this happening, all Okinawa people got angry and protest meetings took place all over the island.

But the U.S. Military ignored them and ordered the final eviction of Isahama. On July 18th 1955, several thousands people came to Isahama from many parts od Okinawa in the morning to assist the meeting. In the afternoon, there were more than ten thousand people. It meant this requisition was so important for the whole Okinawa island.

So the U.S. Military didn't appear, until midnight when there were only several hundreds of people remained Armed trucks bulldozers approached slowly with the lights off, and enclosed the huge land.

That was no regal ground for this action. It was not requisition; it was plunder.