Last updated: 11 February 2024
The Peace For Okinawa Coalition is a non-profit advocacy group led by young Luchuans (also known as Ryukyuans / Okinawans / Uchinaanchu) to promote Luchuan culture, history, languages, and rights. We are headquartered in Okinawa City, Luchu and have an extension office in Honolulu, Oahu, the Hawaiian Kingdom. Our official working languages are Luchuan, Chinese, and English.
Highlights
- Collected over 212,000 signatures calling for a stop to the construction of the U.S. military base at Henoko, Okinawa (2018-2019).
- Spoken at and/or hosted numerous conferences and other events across Luchu (Ryukyu / Okinawa), Hawaii, Switzerland, and elsewhere (2019-2023).
- Represented Indigenous Luchuans / Okinawans at the United Nations Human Rights Council and other related venues (2019-2023).
- Interviewed Dr. Alfred de Zayas about his book Building a Just World Order who stated that the construction of the military base at Henoko, Okinawa is illegal, and also expressed support for Luchuan (Okinawan) self-determination (2021). In 2022 Building a Just World Order was awarded an International Book Award in the Category of Law.
- Cited by retired United Nations human rights official Dr. Alfred de Zayas in his book The Human Rights Industry (2023).
Vision
We support the immediate restoration of Luchu (Okinawa) independence, with the creation of the Republic of Luchu (Ryukyu) as a neutral, demilitarized country with a democratic form of government, and equal rights for all Luchuans (Ryukyuans). Luchu will be a buffer zone in the Asia-Pacific region, calming tensions on all sides, and will focus on trade, finance, diplomacy, cross-culture exchange, education, and environmental sustainability. This is a win-win situation for all sides. This was Luchu's historic role, and it is what is needed now and moving into the future.
Mission & Values
- "Tusui ya tatashina mun. Warabee shikashina mun -- The old should be treated with respect. Children should be treated with gentleness."
- We are led by Millennial & Gen-Z Luchuans under the auspices and guidance of various elder groups in Luchu, including the Ryukyu Independence Action Network, whose voices we seek to amplify. We condemn Generation X aggression, bullying, and harassment against younger generations. We are open to all ages.
- "Nmarijima nu kutuba washirinee, kuni n washirin. Kuni n washirinee, uya n washirin -- To forget your native tongue is to forget your native country. To forget your native country means to lose your parents, ancestors, and self."
- We recognize that Luchuans are the Indigenous peoples of the Luchu Islands with our own unique culture, history, languages, values, and identity, as recognized by the United Nations. Luchuans / Okinawans are not Japanese, have never been Japanese, and never will be Japanese.
- We recognize that Luchu is a de jure independent country in continuity under international law. We call for the immediate restoration of Luchu's de facto independence. We believe that all nations around the world should support Luchuan rights and independence.
- We prioritize the voices of Native Luchuans and other Indigenous peoples. We condemn white and Japanese people speaking for and over Luchuans on Luchuan issues. We occasionally work with white or Japanese people and allow them to speak at our events, however, this in no way entitles them to claim Luchuan identity or rights. White & Japanese people should support Luchuans from the sides, not the front.
- "Nuchi du takara -- Life is a precious treasure."
- We remember the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 in which Japan deliberately committed genocide against Uchinaanchu (Indigenous Okinawans), particularly targeting those who supported independence restoration and/or spoke the native language(s). One-third of the Native Okinawan population was killed during a period of roughly three months. We are committed to ensuring this never happens again.
- We support the preservation of the Luchu Islands, including our land, sea, plant, animal life, and natural resources
- "Ichariba Choodee -- Now that we have gotten to know each other, we consider you family."
- Luchu is a Bridge of Nations. We seek peaceful, friendly, mutually-beneficial relations with all peoples and nations around the world, including the United States of America, Japan, China, etc..
- We recognize that Luchu has always maintained peaceful, friendly, mutually-beneficial relations with all nations, including strong historical relations with China, Korea, and Southeast Asian nations.
- The overwhelming majority of Luchuans / Okinawans oppose the U.S. and Japanese military bases in Luchu. With that being said, most Luchuans are not anti-America or anti-Japan, and would welcome both American and Japanese businesses in an independent Luchu. Therefore the Peace For Okinawa Coalition calls for the removal of U.S. and Japanese military bases from Luchu, and the establishing of Luchu as a neutral buffer zone in the Asia-Pacific, focused on cross-cultural exchange, economic prosperity, diplomacy, education, conflict resolution, peace promotion, and environmental preservation.
- We follow in the footsteps of the United Nations, the United States government, the government of Japan, and roughly 177 other countries around the world, along with numerous international businesses and non-profit organizations, in recognizing the One China Policy.
- "Makutushi nankuru naisaa -- When you do the right thing, things become natural."
- We believe in the timeless Luchuan values set forth by our ancestors of peace, love, non-violence, and mutually-beneficial cooperation. We seek world peace.
Work with us
The Peace For Okinawa Coalition frequently collaborates with other organizations, both in Luchu and overseas, to help each other in our shared goals. We cannot accept all requests, and are only able to accept those that we believe are in the Luchuan spirit of yuimaru -- mutually beneficial cooperation that serves the greater good. If you or your organization has a mutually-beneficial opportunity, please contact us!
We work with peoples and nations in a similar position as Luchu, including:
We do not support separatist or independence movements that propagate or are backed by imperialism.
- Alaska
- Catalonia
- Guam / Marianas
- Hawaii
- Kashmir
- Puerto Rico
- Scotland
- West Papua
We do not support separatist or independence movements that propagate or are backed by imperialism.
Founding
The Peace For Okinawa Coalition was founded in January 2019 by Indigenous Luchuan (Okinawan) Robert Kajiwara under the auspices of numerous Luchuan elder organizations, including the Ryukyu Independence Action Network. Prior to this Kajiwara had been working for various Luchuan organizations who had appointed him to advance Luchuan issues, particularly to the younger generations. In December 2018 Kajiwara started a petition to stop the illegal construction of the U.S. military base at Henoko, Okinawa. Supported by numerous elder groups in Luchu, the petition reached its goal of 100,000 signatures in just ten days, and went on to amass over 212,000 signatures (around 20% of the Okinawan population) in around two months, becoming the largest petition for this issue. The popularity of the petition sparked demands among young Luchuans for the creation of an organization with a strong online presence that could promote Luchuan issues, as well as represent Luchuan voices at the United Nations. This led to the creation of the Peace For Okinawa Coalition, operating under the auspices of the Ryukyu Independence Action Network and numerous other Luchuan elder organizations. Since February 2019 the Peace For Okinawa Coalition has maintained a regular presence at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, advocating for Luchuan rights.
The Peace For Okinawa Coalition was founded in January 2019 by Indigenous Luchuan (Okinawan) Robert Kajiwara under the auspices of numerous Luchuan elder organizations, including the Ryukyu Independence Action Network. Prior to this Kajiwara had been working for various Luchuan organizations who had appointed him to advance Luchuan issues, particularly to the younger generations. In December 2018 Kajiwara started a petition to stop the illegal construction of the U.S. military base at Henoko, Okinawa. Supported by numerous elder groups in Luchu, the petition reached its goal of 100,000 signatures in just ten days, and went on to amass over 212,000 signatures (around 20% of the Okinawan population) in around two months, becoming the largest petition for this issue. The popularity of the petition sparked demands among young Luchuans for the creation of an organization with a strong online presence that could promote Luchuan issues, as well as represent Luchuan voices at the United Nations. This led to the creation of the Peace For Okinawa Coalition, operating under the auspices of the Ryukyu Independence Action Network and numerous other Luchuan elder organizations. Since February 2019 the Peace For Okinawa Coalition has maintained a regular presence at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, advocating for Luchuan rights.
Proudly powered by Weebly