Okinawa Prefectural Assembly passes three resolutions in protest of the U.S. military helicopter fire in Takae, demand ban on helipad use
The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Passing a protest resolution and official opinion statement for the helicopter fire in Takae, Higashi Village. October 16, Okinawa Prefectural Assembly
October 16, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition
In the wake of the crash landing and fire of a U.S. military CH53E helicopter in the Takae district of Higashi Village, the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly unanimously passed protest resolutions and official opinion statements in the final session of the September regular meetings October 16. The resolutions demanded a ban on the use of helipads in the Northern Training Area (NTA), and a stoppage of any flight exercises over private land or water resources.
The official opinion statement was submitted to the Japanese Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, and Minister of State for Okinawa. The resolution was submitted to the American ambassador to Japan, the commander of U.S. Forces in Japan, the Okinawa Area Coordinator, the U.S. Consulate General Naha, and the commander of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force. The Assembly also plan to engage in calls to protest against the U.S. military in Okinawa and to send the resolution and opinion statement to similar parties abroad.
The same day, the Prefectural Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution and opinion statement protesting parachute training at the Katena Air Base. The resolution and opinion statement claim that the parachute training was moved to Ie Shima Airfield in the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) agreement, and that training exercises outside of Ie Shima are, “In disregard of the SACO agreement, and that they cannot sanction any activity not related to the improvement of base functions.”
Additionally, after the September 29 emergency-landing of an MV-22 Osprey belonging to MCAS Futenma at the New Ishigaki Airport, the Assembly also passed a protest resolution and official opinion statement proposed by the ruling coalition. The resolution demanded the decommissioning of the Ospreys, the end of operations at MCAS Futenma within five years, and the withdrawal of the Marines from Okinawa.
Meanwhile the Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition commented on the name of the resolution, titled “[Resolution on the] Emergency Landing Accident,” stating that, “an emergency landing is not an accident,” and that while they agree with the sentiment of the resolution, they could not agree to the demands to decommission the Ospreys and withdrawal of the Marines, and walked out of the vote. The resolutions were then passed unanimously without the participation of the LDP.
(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)
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