 U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Base is the most dangerous base in the world In August, a U.S. Marine Corps transport helicopter (CH53D) crashed at Okinawa International University. Iha Yoichi, mayor of Ginowan City in Okinawa, in an interview with the Sunday Akahata expressed anger at the U.S. and Japanese governments which are continuing to force the Ginowan citizens to pay the cost of the U.S. military presence. Following is the interview reported in the August 29 issue of Sunday Akahata: Q: Mr. Mayor, you lodged a strong protest against the resumption of U.S. forces training with helicopters of the same type as the one that crashed at Okinawa International University. Ginowan Mayor Iha Yoichi: They did so because they give military operations priority over the safety of the residents of Okinawa. It is as if Okinawa is under U.S. military rule. It's in violation of Japanese sovereignty. We must not condone this situation to continue. After the CH53D crash, the U.S. forces stated that the helicopters of this type would not be flown until they complete the investigation of the cause of the accident and inspections of CH53Ds. But they have resumed their flights without giving any explanation to us. This is a very regrettable act in complete disregard of the anger of the citizens of Ginowan City and Okinawa Prefecture as well as the people throughout the country. We will continue to request that those helicopters that have left Futenma should not return to the base. Q: What came to your mind when you first heard the news about the crash? Iha: I thought that this was "an accident waiting to occur." I felt helpless. That was the first U.S. aircraft/helicopter crash in Okinawa's residential area since the 1972 reversion to Japan of the administrative rights over Okinawa. I rushed to the crash site and found that not only the university campus buildings but surrounding houses were also damaged. Although, miraculously, no one was injured, this is a serious accident. To me, a scorched helicopter was something seen in a picture, but it came true! The thing is that an aircraft crash is inevitable in Ginowan because U.S. forces are carrying out flight training daily, including directly over heavily populated areas. According to statistics last year, there were 53 days in which U.S. forces carried out more than 200 flights. When a group of three helicopters ever carries out a set of exercises for take-off, circling, and landing in turn, they cause a wave of noise every 90 seconds. When this kind of exercise is held in the evening, residents' peaceful life is totally disrupted. Almost everyday, the city office receives many complaints from citizens who say, "Our baby can't sleep!" or "Flight training is continuing for many evening hours, driving us crazy." Q: After the crash accident, you requested Prime Minister' Koizumi Jun'ichiro to meet with you, but he declined to do so. What do you think of that? Iha: I was told a meeting would not be arranged because the prime minister was on vacation. Even if he was in vacation, he could have issued a comment on the crash. What a shame! I believe that the prime minister has the responsibility to publicly state what he thinks about this serious accident. I have consistently said to the Japanese and U.S. governments that Futenma is the world's most dangerous airfield with serious defects. When we made representations to the Japanese government or the U.S. Embassy in Japan, they never acknowledged that Futenma is a dangerous airfield. But, this time around, the Japanese government has had to say that it is "dangerous" under the present system of using the base. We will continue to be tenacious in pressing the government on this question so that this lack of action on the part of the government will be transitory. Q: The demand for the return of the U.S. Futenma base site is more urgent than ever. Iha: Last year, I was elected Ginowan Mayor. In the campaign, I call for the Futenma base site to be returned to the city by the year 2008. I am sure that the latest crash proved that Futenma is the world's most dangerous base. With this base located at the present site, we cannot ensure that residents will be safe. At the same time, I have consistently said that I do not believe that a relocation of the Futenma base to the Henoko district of Nago City (also in Okinawa Prefecture) can be the solution. I think it's time to give up the idea of relocating the Futenma base to Henoko. I call on the Japanese and U.S. governments to begin to discuss the closure of the Futenma base without delay. U.S. forces must stop their flights over residential areas and stop using the base for helicopter flight training. On September 5, Ginowan citizens will hold a rally to protest about the crash incident. It's good to hold this rally jointly with the city administration, legislature, and various civic groups. I think this will help increase the power to achieve the return of the Futenma base site to Japan. The U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station is located in the center of Ginowan City. It has a 2,800 meter runway. It permanently houses fifty-six helicopters and 15 fixed-wing aircraft. It has an area of 480 hectares and accounts for 25 percent of the city land. At the start of the U.S. military occupation of Okinawa in 1945, U.S. forces expropriated this area and constructed a runway. Thus, 92 percent of the base is deemed private property. The Futenma base hampers Ginowan's city planning and development. For example, construction of water supply and sewage systems are very costly because they need to construct around the U.S. base. (end) |