Japan Press Weekly

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2013 July 10 - 16 [OKINAWA]

Okinawa prefectural assembly wants all Ospreys out

The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly on July 11 unanimously adopted a resolution protesting against any additional deployment of Osprey aircraft to the U.S. Futenma base and demanding the withdrawal of all Ospreys from the prefecture.

The Japanese and U.S. governments plan to add 12 MV22 Ospreys to the existing 12 Ospreys at the Futenma base by the end of August.

The resolution criticizes the two governments for forcibly placing the 12 aircraft at the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station last year in defiance of Okinawan’s opposition, and points out that the aircraft frequently fly over residential areas in Okinawa in violation of the bilateral safety agreement.

Regarding the state’s failure to take any measures to ease local people’s anger and concern over noise pollution and environmental problems as well as fear of crashes, the resolution states, “The two national governments’ behavior ignoring Okinawan people’s demands is totally unacceptable.”