Defense Ministry puts up fences for construction of U.S. military helipads

Japan Press Weekly

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

Defense Ministry puts up fences for construction of U.S. military helipads

In defiance of residents’ protests, the Defense Ministry on February 19 forcibly installed fences in preparation for construction of U.S. military helipads in the Takae district of Higashi Village, Okinawa.

The DM’s Naha Defense Bureau staff continued the work they started on the 18th, setting up fences in front of the gates at the site for the construction of U.S. helipads. Some personnel were recording residents’ protests with video cameras.

In 2008, the Naha Defense Bureau filed a complaint with the Naha District Court demanding the ejection of local residents participating in a sit-in protest from the area of the construction site. The court at the end of last year ordered two representatives of the residents’ protest group to stop obstructing traffic. In January this year, the Defense Bureau filed a suit against the two at the district court.

Isa Masatsugu, co-chairing the residents’ association against the helipads construction, said, “The Defense Bureau said at a meeting last month that it will begin the construction in July. Why did it carry out the surprise installation of fences now? It might be an attempt to collect ‘evidence’ of residents’ ‘sabotage’ for a future court battle.”

- Akahata, February 20, 2010