Commandant Neller ignores history of land taken by U.S. military saying, “there were no people living” near Futenma when it was built

Commandant Neller ignores history of land taken by U.S. military saying, “there were no people living” near Futenma when it was built

Marine Commandant Robert B. Neller


 

May 4, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

Washington Special Correspondent Yukiyo Zaha reporting

 

On May 2 the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps (CMC) General Robert B. Neller spoke about Futenma Air Station, located in Ginowan City, Okinawa. He said, “Futenma Air Base is very old. It goes back to World War II. And if you look at pictures, Futenma when it was built was … there were no people living within several kilometers. Now the cities around Futenma are right up to the fence.”

 

The airfield was built as a result of the U.S. military seizing land upon which a village was located while its residents were isolated in internment camps during and after the war. Neller’s comment ignores the sequence of events that led to the residents having no choice but to live near the airfield.

 

At this press briefing at the Department of Defense, Neller answered a question from the Ryukyu Shimpo. Neller said, “… I know the great majority of Okinawan people appreciate the American presence there, and that the great, great majority of us are good neighbors and we’re good friends.” As for the issue of Futenma relocation to Henoko, Nago City, Neller said, “We are happy to leave Futenma when we have a place to leave to go to. Until then, we’ll continue to operate and be as safe as we can.” With these words Neller made known that the plan is to continue to use Futenma Air Station, negating that Futenma be closed down next February in accordance with the five-year period that the Okinawa Prefectural Government requested from the Japanese government.

Neller confirmed that the plan to reduce the number of Marines on Okinawa remains unchanged. However, he addressed the opposition movement and said, “The Futenma Replacement Facility is going to take awhile.” He once more expressed the view that environmental issues are standing in the way of the Marine Corps plan to build live-fire ranges on Tinian Island in the Mariana Islands, upon which the plan to relocate Marines to Guam is consequent.

 

In terms of safety assurance Neller said, “… It would be helpful [for safety] if the people that lived around there didn’t point lasers at our airplanes, or fly kites or balloons in the flight paths…”

There were reported incidents of lasers being pointed at aircraft around Futenma, Kadena, and elsewhere in 2015. Also, when Osprey aircraft were deployed to Okinawa in 2012, residents of the surrounding areas flew kites and balloons to demonstrate their objections to the deployment, but now these actions are restricted.

 

(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)

 

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