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2012 December 12 - 18 [OKINAWA]

Additional 288 residents seek halt to US flights over Futenma

A group of 288 people living in the vicinity of the U.S. Futenma base in Okinawa’s Ginowan City on December 13 filed a lawsuit with the Naha District Court seeking an injunction against the flight of American warplanes in the early morning hours and at night, and are seeking compensatory damages from the Japanese government for the noise pollution.

Adding to the 3,129 residents who brought a similar suit in March, the number of the plaintiffs has now come to 3,417. These are the second in a series of legal actions following the first one in 2002.

The plaintiffs group pointed out that the state failed to act to improve the situation despite the court judgment in the first round which found that the noise exceeds the legally permissible level. They argue that the government violates fundamental human rights, demanding the confirmation of the unconstitutionality of the state’s negligence.

The U.S. Ospreys, which are deployed to the Futenma base, have entered the stage of full operations. Local people have been concerned about the increase in the noise caused by Osprey flight training exercises.


Related past article
> 3,129 seek injunction to halt US flights over Futenma [March 31, 2012]