Ginowan City Council demands Osprey flight suspension, investigation into Australia sea crash

Ginowan City Council demands Osprey flight suspension, investigation into Australia sea crash

After 10:00 a.m. on August 18 the Ginowan City councilors unanimously adopt the protest resolution calling for suspension of Osprey flights, the closure of Futenma Air Station, and drastic revision of the U.S.-Japan SOFA.


August 18, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition

 

On August 18 at an extraordinary session of the Ginowan City Council, the council unanimously voted to adopt a protest resolution and written argument demanding a speedy investigation and announcement regarding the cause of the recent crash off the coast of Australia of an MV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft from Futenma Air Station.

The resolution and argument also demanded a suspension of Osprey flights, the prompt closure and return of Futenma Air Station, and implementation of the five-year-period closure of the base.

The resolution and argument refers to the Osprey crash in December last year as well as the two emergency landings in June this year, pointing out that Osprey keep causing trouble.

The documents mention that local citizens are dragged into serious accidents connected to these aircraft, spreading shock, anxiety, and dread among Okinawans.

In addition, the resolution and argument call for a drastic revision of the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

Chairman Masatoshi Oshiro of the Ginowan City Council and members of the U.S. military base special committee delivered the protest resolution and argument directly to the Marines in Okinawa, the U.S. Consul-General in Okinawa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Okinawa Liaison Office, and the Okinawa Defense Bureau.

 

 

(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)

Go to Japanese

 


　


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