U.S. Marines aircraft disregard protests and land at Okinawa's civil airfield

On April 22 large U.S. Marine helicopters and air-to-air refueling aircraft landed at a civil airfield on a southern Okinawan island between Okinawa's main island and Taiwan, ignoring local protests, Akahata reported on April 24.

These aircraft on their way to the Philippines to take part in the U.S.-Philippines joint exercises Balikatan 2002-02 used Shimochi-shima Airfield in Irabu Town as a stepping stone. The Okinawa Prefectural Government, which administers the facility used by Japan Airlines and other airlines for training pilots, had requested that the U.S. Forces refrain from using the airfield except in emergencies.

The U.S. Forces ignored the request and went ahead with the landing of four CH46 helicopters and a KC130 aircraft used for air-to-air refueling. This delayed a flight training by JAL for two hours.

In an extraordinary meeting, the Irabu Town Assembly on April 23 adopted a unanimous resolution against the use of the airfield by the U.S. Forces. Expressing deep concern, the statement said that the townspeople will not tolerate such action that would allow U.S. forces to permanently use the facility as a relay base between the Philippines and Okinawa. The assembly adopted a similar resolution in 1987.

Islander members of the Miyako District Trade Union Council and a Japanese Communist Party assembly member assembled in front of the airport, shouting, "We say no to U.S. war training on this peaceful island." (end)