miyazaki

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Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly opposes allowing U.S. forces to use SDF air base

The Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly on December 19 adopted a unanimous resolution opposing the plan to allow the U.S. Air Force to use the Air Self-Defense Force Nyutabaru Base in the southwestern Japanese prefecture for its flight training of F-15s.

As part of the plan to realign U.S. forces in Japan, the Japanese government in late October agreed to include this in the interim report agreed on by the Japanese and U.S. governments.

U.S. F-15s will reportedly come from U.S. air bases in Japan: U.S. Kadena Air Base (Okinawa), U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station (Yamaguchi) and U.S. Misawa Air Base (Aomori).

The resolution stated, "Many prefectural residents are afraid of having to shoulder even heavier burdens stemming from the worsening of public security in areas near the base, aircraft crashes and other accidents, and more noise pollution."

"We cannot accept the plan that will greatly increase local burdens. We are also discontent with the Japanese government's attitude," it said.

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The Miyoshi City Assembly in Hiroshima Prefecture on December 16 adopted a unanimous resolution expressing firm opposition to the plan to relocate an aircraft carrier-based unit from the U.S. Navy Atsugi Air Facility in Kanagawa Prefecture to the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

The U.S. air wing, if redeployed, will carry out nighttime touch-and-go practices (NLP) at Iwakuni base, near Hiroshima.

The resolution warns that the unit will increase low-altitude flight training in the Chugoku area as well as the operational capabilities of the base.

The assembly expressed its specific concern that the deployment to Iwakuni of FA-18 Super Hawnets, a particularly noisy aircraft, will worsen residents' living conditions, and that Iwakuni will be a base with the greatest number of U.S. aircraft in Japan.

It also warned that the use of Airborne Early Warning aircraft in NLPs will further add to noise pollution around the base.

Recalling that Iwakuni-based aircraft have frequently carried out low-altitude flights in the mountain areas of the Chugoku region, specifically in the northern part of Hiroshima, the city assembly stated that residents do not want to risk possible crashes and put up with unbearable noises.
-Akahata, December 20, 2005