Okinawa assembly adopts protest resolution in response to Osprey crash in Australia, demanding withdrawal of aircraft and U.S. Marines
A protest resolution and a written opinion calling for the withdrawal of the Osprey and the U.S. Marines were approved by a majority at the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly's extraordinary plenary session on August 28
August 29, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
In the wake of an MV-22 Osprey vertical take-off and landing transport aircraft crashing off the coast of Australia, the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly passed a protest resolution and a written opinion demanding the withdrawal of the aircraft and U.S. Marines.
The resolution and the written opinion, proposed by the ruling parties, were adopted by a majority, including the ruling parties, neutral factions and the Komei party.
The Okinawa LDP opposed the resolution and the written opinion, and the Ishin party left the room.
On August 29, the ruling party members will visit the U.S. military headquarters in Camp Zukeran and the Okinawa Defense Bureau to hand over the resolution and the written opinion.
The LDP, which is an opposition party in the assembly, has proposed a protest resolution and a written opinion seeking an investigation into the cause of the accident.
However, the assembly did not take votes because the resolution and the written opinion proposed by the ruling parties have been adopted already.
Moriyuki Teruya, a member of the LDP, said about the ruling parties’ proposal, “When asking for the withdrawal of Ospreys, we cannot ask other prefectures to host the training for them.”
The protest resolution and the written opinion, proposed by the ruling parties, made three requests: the withdrawal of the Osprey’s deployment and the U.S. Marine Corps and the suspension of the operations of the Futenma Air Station within five years.
The resolution will be sent to the U.S. commander in Tokyo and the U.S. Consul General in Okinawa.
The written opinion will be sent to the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister and others.
Seiryo Arakaki, a member of the ruling parties, highlighted the reasons for the proposal, “Okinawan people’s fears of a crash are growing due to the accident.
” He added, regarding the current situation in which Osprey training is being forced through, “I cannot hold back my anger against the U.S. military ignoring citizens.”
Meanwhile, the opposition parties’ proposal did not progress, leaving out the request for the withdrawal of the Ospreys.
It made four requests: a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and notifying the public about such an investigation, suspending flights until the aircraft’s safety is confirmed, transferring training of the Ospreys to outside the prefecture, and the early return of Futenma Air Station.
(English translation by T&CT)
Previous Article:APALA adopts resolution against military expansion in Okinawa at 2017 Anaheim convention
Next Article:Research Association published an open letter to Kyoto University
[Similar Articles]
- Okinawa Prefectural Assembly passes three resolutions in protest of the U.S. military helicopter fire in Takae, demand ban on helipad use
- Okinawa Prefectural Assembly passes protest resolution over December 13 Osprey crash
- Okinawa Prefectural Assembly to protest LDP members’ attack on local newspapers
- Okinawa Assembly demands that Okinawa Governor resign
- Okinawa Prefectural Assembly opposes central government celebration of the date of restoration of Japan’s sovereignty
Webcam(Kokusai Street)
