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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

U.S. F-15 fighter units resume training

On January 19, two days after a F-15 fighter from the U.S. Kadena Air Base crashed into the sea, resumed F-15 training flights ignoring Okinawa Prefecture's call for a halt to flights until the cause of the accident is established.

The Urasoe City Assembly and the Yomitan and Nakagusuku village assemblies held extraordinary sessions on January 19 and adopted resolutions demanding that F-15 flights be suspended.

The Okinawa City Assembly planned to stage a protest at the U.S. Kadena Air Base on January 19. However, the U.S. forces notified the city assembly that a Japanese Communist Party assembly member will not be admitted to the base. The city assembly regarded this as an insult to the citizens' assembly, and canceled the action to express their protest.

Ikehara Hideaki, a JCP representative who was refused permission to enter the base, said, "I have many times taken part in this kind of action on behalf of the city assembly. Their denial this time betrays their impatience at the widespread opposition to their plans to realign the U.S. forces and strengthen military bases."
- Akahata, January 20, 2006