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

U.S. refuses to pay compensation for noise pollution at its military bases

It has been learned that the United States refuses to pay compensation for noise pollution at its military bases in Japan. As the United States insists that the Japanese government must pay the compensation, the Japanese government has paid 3.44 billion yen in compensation in place of the United States.

Since 1993, courts have ruled that the U.S. forces violated regulations on noise pollution, and have ordered the Japanese government to pay a total of 2.76 billion yen in compensation to the affected residents living around the U.S. Yokota base (Tokyo), Atsugi base (Kanagawa Pref.), and Kadena base (Okinawa Pref.)

The noise pollution was caused by U.S. military aircraft, and the United States should be held liable to pay the compensation. Even the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which essentially gives extraordinary privileges to U.S. forces, provides that the United States should pay 75 percent of the amount a court orders it to pay. Ignoring this treaty provision, the U.S. government fully shifts the burden onto the Japanese government.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly expressed that they cannot say whether noise pollution from U.S. military aircraft is included in the damage that SOFA defines. The ministry's position is nothing but an attempt to blur the understanding of SOFA in order to defend the U.S. argument.

Such a subservient attitude of the Japanese government has made the United States so arrogant that the United States requests Japan to bear the costs of strengthening U.S. global military posture under the name of realignment, which has nothing to do with defending Japan.
- Akahata, June 26, 2006