Court ruling: Anti-U.S. helipad sit-ins are not sabotage

Japan Press Weekly

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Court ruling: Anti-U.S. helipad sit-ins are not sabotage

The Naha District Court on December 11 decided that sit-in protests against the plan to construct U.S. military helipads in the Takae district of Higashi Village in Okinawa do not constitute an obstacle to traffic.

The court also dismissed a claim filed by the Naha Regional Defense Facilities Administration Bureau for a removal of four tents, but acknowledged that two leaders of the” Association of Residents against the Helicopter Pad” obstructed traffic.

The defense authorities filed a complaint against 14 members of the Association, seeking a court order to eject the sit-in protesters on the grounds that they are blocking traffic and are “illegally trespassing on public property rights beyond the extent of reasonable expression.”

After the court decision, the legal team of defendants published a statement, “The court has regarded residents’ speeches and other peaceful activities as justifiable. The residents will continue taking part in the anti-U.S. helipad actions.” The lawyers said they will file a complaint over the unfair ruling of the two leaders of the Association.

The defense authorities were apparently trying to crack down on residents’ protest actions against the state plan to construct military facilities in their district.

It is natural for the court to judge that as long as residents’ actions to persuade or complain to defense bureau officials are based on their political belief in opposition to the construction of helipads, these actions should be accepted and respected to a certain extent.

The court recognized that the judicial approach that the state used this time to split residents and weaken their activities was unjustifiable.

- Akahata, December 12, 2009