Okinawa Council asks JCP to call on the Diet for flight halt of F15s

The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly members delegation headed by Nakazato Toshinobu, Liberal Democratic Party, on September 11 visited the Japanese Communist Party headquarters in Tokyo to request that the JCP call on the Diet for a flight suspension of U.S. F-15 fighter aircraft.

Concerning the August 21 accident involving an F-15 fighter of the U.S. Kadena Air Base, the delegation made similar representations to all political parties.

The delegation head pointed out that the number of F-15 accidents between 1995 and 2001 in Okinawa was five, but as of the end of August this year alone, the number was already nine.

He said that Okinawa has been requesting the U.S. Forces and related ministries and agencies, but it seems to be in vain so far. He asked JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi for help by saying, "Our efforts has been in vain so far, so we decided to make representations to all political parties to take up the issue in the Diet."

JCP Ichida replied, "Despite the difference of political stance toward the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, we have a lot in common to protect people's lives and their livelihoods. The JCP will make efforts for your request to be realized." (end)