Japan Press Weekly

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2016 December 14 - 20 [US FORCES]

Okinawa Governor makes strong protest over Osprey crash

Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi on December 15 went to Tokyo to make a strong protest to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and the Prime Minister’s Office in regard to the most recent U.S. MV-22 Osprey crash.

The written protest he handed to government officials expresses Okinawans’ anger over the crash of Osprey aircraft. The protest also states that the accident, which occurred off the coast of Okinawa on December 13, would have brought about a disastrous result involving residents’ property and lives if it had crashed on land.

Governor Onaga, referring to another Osprey making an emergency belly-landing following the first incident, criticized the defense authority’s response by saying, “I’ve heard nothing in regard to the second accident from the Defense Minister.”

The governor also criticized the statement made by Lieutenant General Lawrence D. Nicholson, the top ranking U.S. military officer in Okinawa, that Okinawans “should be thankful” to the MV-22 pilot for not crashing over local residences. He said, “This remark dismisses Okinawans’ fear and anxiety. I cannot help but think that the remark is based on the very idea of military occupation.”