Naha residents protest against dispatching P3C patrol aircraft to areas off Somalia

Japan Press Weekly

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

Naha residents protest against dispatching P3C patrol aircraft to areas off Somalia

The Maritime Self-Defense Force on October 5 dispatched two P3C patrol aircraft to waters off Somalia on an anti-piracy mission. In front of the MSDF Naha Air Base in Naha City in Okinawa, residents carried out a protest action against the dispatch.

This was the second dispatch of P3Cs. The P3Cs will start their patrol mission in mid-October while based in Djibouti, Somalia's neighbor.

Soma Yuri, one of the residents who organized the action, said, "Sending the SDF to Africa under the pretext of engaging in an anti-piracy mission obviously violates the Japanese Constitution. From the SDF Naha base, 30 soldiers were dispatched. My friends may be included. I can't remain indifferent when I think about their families' fear for their safety."

Okinawa Prefectural Peace Committee director Yogi Kiichiro said, "The SDF has also deployed its troops in Ishigaki and Yonaguni Islands although such a move only helps increase military tension in Asia. It is really unacceptable to send the SDF abroad under such circumstances."

- Akahata, October 6, 2009