 USFJ to control civilian private land after U.S. aircraft accidents The Japanese and U.S. governments on April 1 agreed on guidelines allowing the U.S. forces in Japan to control civilian sites where U.S. military aircraft crash or make forced landings outside U.S. military bases. The official text in English of the "Guidelines Regarding Off-Base U.S. Military Aircraft Accidents in Japan" states that "the U.S. armed forces will be permitted to enter land in Japan on public or private property outside of U.S. facilities or areas without prior authority from GOJ officials or other persons in authority." The Japan-U.S. Joint Committee on the Status of Forces Agreement discussed the guidelines after the U.S. helicopter crash incident in August 2004 at Okinawa International University in Ginowan City. Soon after the accident, U.S. forces personnel entered and closed off the accident site without obtaining permission from the university. The guidelines are intended to perpetuate such unilateral rescue/research operations by the U.S., reported Akahata on April 2. In order "to restrict unauthorized persons from the immediate vicinity of the accident site," the Guidelines stipulate: "Authorities of the GOJ and of the US armed forces will exercise necessary joint control over such crash or forced landing sites." They also provide that two cordons will be set up: an "inner cordon" around the immediate vicinity of the accident site exclusively controlled by U.S. forces, and an "outer cordon" controlled jointly by the two forces. (end) |