Japan Press Weekly

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2012 May 23 - 29 [US FORCES]

US Navy forcibly conducts carrier-based aircraft exercises

Japanese Communist Party members and peace-minded citizens in Kanagawa Prefecture on May 22 visited the U.S. Atsugi Naval Air Base to demand the cancellation of takeoff-and-landing exercises by U.S. carrier-borne military aircraft.

On this day, the U.S. Navy forcibly conducted the first-day flight training at the Atsugi base after they notified at the last minute relevant municipalities of the exercises to take place May 22-24 (9a.m.-10p.m.) with F/A-18E fighter jets of the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington.

A spokesperson of the Atsugi base explained that due to some defects found in the Yokosuka-based USS GW, the carrier-borne F/A-18Es had to conduct their training at Atsugi.

Hatano Kimie, a JCP candidate in a proportional representation district for the general election, complained that the roar of the fighter jets is seriously disturbing surrounding residents.

Those who accompanied Hatano included representatives from 10 groups of JCP local asssemblymembers, Sagamihara and Zama peace committees, and residents against the noise caused by military aircraft and the U.S. aircraft carrier.

Kanagawa Governor Kuroiwa Yuji and Kasama Seijiro, the mayor of Ayase City where the Atsugi base is located, also made representations to the regional defense bureau, requesting for the immediate halt to the exercises.

The governor said that the forcible conduct of such drills “is extremely regrettable” because he had requested that the U.S. forces refrain from carrying out military training at the Atsugi base which is located in a densely populated area.

He also stated, “It is impermissible” that the noise inflicts intolerable suffering on residents living in the vicinity of the base.