Japan Press Weekly

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2013 August 14 - 20 [OKINAWA]

Takae residents demand halt to US forces’ Osprey helipads construction

Calling for a halt to the ongoing construction of U.S. military helipads for Ospreys in the rich forest of northern Okinawa, residents of Okinawa’s Takae district on August 16 made representations to the Naha Defense Bureau.

They also demanded that one of the helipads, where the construction was reportedly completed earlier this year, not be put to use by the U.S. forces.

Isa Masatsugu, co-representative of a residents’ group against the construction of the military facilities, stated that since the tilt-rotor aircraft MV-22 Ospreys were deployed to Okinawa last October, they have repeatedly conducted low-altitude flight exercises over Takae.

If the U.S. forces are allowed to use the helipad, located adjacent to a residential area, local people’s fear of possible crashes would be deepened, said Isa.

Naha Defense Bureau Director Takeda Hiroshi responded to Isa by saying that the helipad will be “offered to the U.S. forces through talks in the Japan-U.S. joint committee,” indicating the Japanese government’s intention to proceed with the plan.

The representation was accompanied by parliamentarians based in Okinawa, including Japanese Communist Party Lower House member Akamine Seiken.