Japan Press Weekly

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2011 June 15 - 21 [OKINAWA]

Naha City rejects Osprey deployment

The Naha City Assembly in Okinawa Prefecture on June 20 unanimously adopted resolutions calling on the Japanese and U.S. governments to immediately retract a plan to deploy the vertical take-off and landing transport aircraft MV22 Ospreys at the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City.

Pointing out that the Osprey has carshed a large number of times since its development stage, the resolutions say, “Fear of plane crashes will terrify local and prefectural residents.” They also express concerns about the possible increase in the number of training exercises around the Futenma base and the Northern Training Area, and more noise pollution than the currently deployed CH46 helicopters during landing. “It is obvious that noise pollution and damage to the natural environment will increase,” say the resolutions.

The statements add, “(The deployment) will trample on the popular will of Okinawans,” who call for cancelation of the plan to build a new base within Okinawa, elimination of the many dangers at the Futenma base, and an early return of the base.