August 13, 2016
It was witnessed on August 12 that five U.S. soldiers carrying guns walked along a farm road near the U.S. Jungle Warfare Training Center, known as the Northern Training Area, in Okinawa’s Higashi Village.
In the Takae community of the village, protest actions continue to block the government move to construct U.S. helipads, so-called “Ospreypads”.
Japanese Communist Party member of the Higashi Village Assembly Isa Masatsugu said, “The appearance of U.S. servicemen with weapons on a public road causes fear among local people. The construction of the Ospreypads will lead to an increase in the number of U.S. military drills. In order to protect residents’ safety, the Ospreypad construction should be halted and the Northern Training Area should be returned to Okinawa.”
In the Takae community of the village, protest actions continue to block the government move to construct U.S. helipads, so-called “Ospreypads”.
Japanese Communist Party member of the Higashi Village Assembly Isa Masatsugu said, “The appearance of U.S. servicemen with weapons on a public road causes fear among local people. The construction of the Ospreypads will lead to an increase in the number of U.S. military drills. In order to protect residents’ safety, the Ospreypad construction should be halted and the Northern Training Area should be returned to Okinawa.”
