Japan Press Weekly

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2017 July 5 - 11 [POLITICS]

Saga citizens and JCP protest against promotion of Osprey deployment to local Airport

Saga citizens and the local Japanese Communist Party on July 3 protested against the passage of a Liberal Democratic Party-proposed resolution to promote the deployment of Self-Defense Force Ospreys to Saga Airport at a plenary session of the prefectural assembly.

At the plenary session, prior to the vote, JCP lawmaker Muto Akemi took the floor to oppose the resolution, saying, “It is impermissible for the LDP to use its majority force to adopt the resolution in defiance of the opposition by Saga residents. I object to the stationing of Ospreys in peaceful Saga Prefecture for the purpose of strengthening SDF capability.”

In front of the prefectural assembly building, a protest rally took place with 90 people participating.

At the rally, JCP Saga City Assembly member Nakayama Shigetoshi said, “Everyone agrees that accident-prone Ospreys are not safe.”

Ikezaki Motoko, secretary of a liaison committee opposing the Osprey deployment to Saga, said, “We must hand down to our children and grandchildren the peaceful Ariake Sea and the quiet sky overhead. We have to block any attempt to make Saga Airport a military airport.”

Kawazoe Shun’taro, 90, listened to discussions at the prefectural assembly and took part in the rally. He said, “Osprey deployment will turn Saga Airport into a military base, leading to involvement in wars. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, I will do my best to prevent Ospreys from coming to Saga Airport.”

Past related articles:
> JCP Nihi urges gov’t to stop deployment of SDF Ospreys to civilian airport in Saga [February 6, 2015]
> Saga City disapproves of use of Saga Airport for Ospreys [August 21, 2014]
> Saga residents protest against plan to deploy Ospreys to local airport [July 23, 2014]
> 17 Ospreys for SDF may possibly be deployed at civil airport in Saga [July 23, 2014]