Lax weapons control by U.S. forces and SDF angers Okinawans

Okinawans are infuriated by the August 31 explosion at the house of an Air Self-Defense Force sergeant, who was found dead. The house was full of illegally stored weapons and munitions. Public criticism is directed at the SDF and the U.S. forces for their lax management of weapons.

On September 6, explosives disposal officers from the U.S. Kadena Air Base defused four antitank rockets discovered in the house of Senior Master Segregate Tamura Takio, 53, in Naha, who belonged to the ASDF Naha Air Base. Nearly 950 residents were temporarily evacuated from the area.

An evacuee from the densely populated area said, "The incident has brought to light how irresponsible the SDF and USFJ are concerning the safety management of weapons and munitions. They must be held responsible for the explosion."

Commenting on the incident, Akamine Seiken, Japanese Communist Party member of the Lower House, stated:

"The authorities concerned should thoroughly investigate into and strictly deal with the incident, including the method of obtaining the guns and munitions by the sergeant. They also must carefully review weapons control and training of SDF personnel."

It is serious that the stored ammunition was from U.S. forces. In 2000, cartridges of depleted uranium shells were found to be in the hands of Japanese citizens.

Behind the recurrence of the outflow of U.S. weapons is the extraordinarily dense concentration of U.S. military bases on this island.

The U.S. forces and Japanese Self-Defense Forces are neglecting the safety of Okinawans. The JCP demands that they take urgent measures to prevent such incidents. (end)