February 22, 2011
Compensation payment for noise pollution ordered by the courts has totaled about 20 billion yen in lawsuits against the U.S. Kadena (Okinawa), Yokota (Tokyo), and Atsugi (Kanagawa) air bases. However, the U.S. administration has so far refused payment.
Article 18 of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) clearly states, “Where the United States alone is responsible, the amount awarded or adjudged shall be distributed in the proportion of 25 percent chargeable to Japan and 75 percent chargeable to the United States.”
In short, the U.S. administration should pay about 15 billion yen in compensation based on the SOFA.
More than 22,000 Okinawans living near the U.S. Kadena AB will file a third round in the noise-related lawsuit in March. The U.S. administration will most likely again ignore the judge’s order to pay due compensation estimated to be tens of billions of yen.
In the 1996 lawsuit against the U.S. Yokota AB over noise pollution, the United States informed the Japanese government of the U.S. policy of not adhering to the court’s ruling and of refusing to shoulder the responsibility of payment.
The United States has thus ignored the SOFA it had concluded with Japan.
The Japanese government, however, did not protest such an unreasonable attitude and continued to claim to the general public that it is carrying on with Japan-U.S. consultations over the compensation payment. Japan’s subservient attitude allows the United States to continue its policy of noncompliance.
In the first place, the noise caused by U.S. military aircraft tramples on Article 25 of the Constitution which states, “All people shall have the right to maintain minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living.”
The Japanese government should directly negotiate with the U.S. administration to have them pay compensation in accordance with the SOFA provision and should make efforts to have the noise eliminated.
To achieve this, it is essential to explore the ways to have the U.S. military bases removed from Japan.
Article 18 of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) clearly states, “Where the United States alone is responsible, the amount awarded or adjudged shall be distributed in the proportion of 25 percent chargeable to Japan and 75 percent chargeable to the United States.”
In short, the U.S. administration should pay about 15 billion yen in compensation based on the SOFA.
More than 22,000 Okinawans living near the U.S. Kadena AB will file a third round in the noise-related lawsuit in March. The U.S. administration will most likely again ignore the judge’s order to pay due compensation estimated to be tens of billions of yen.
In the 1996 lawsuit against the U.S. Yokota AB over noise pollution, the United States informed the Japanese government of the U.S. policy of not adhering to the court’s ruling and of refusing to shoulder the responsibility of payment.
The United States has thus ignored the SOFA it had concluded with Japan.
The Japanese government, however, did not protest such an unreasonable attitude and continued to claim to the general public that it is carrying on with Japan-U.S. consultations over the compensation payment. Japan’s subservient attitude allows the United States to continue its policy of noncompliance.
In the first place, the noise caused by U.S. military aircraft tramples on Article 25 of the Constitution which states, “All people shall have the right to maintain minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living.”
The Japanese government should directly negotiate with the U.S. administration to have them pay compensation in accordance with the SOFA provision and should make efforts to have the noise eliminated.
To achieve this, it is essential to explore the ways to have the U.S. military bases removed from Japan.
