2016年12月27日 未分類

Shinfujin Protests against Osprey Crash with Okinawans

1月1日号1面写真沖縄1152
An MV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft belonging to the Futenma base in Ginowan crashed into shallow water off the coast of Nago City at about 10:00 p.m. on December 13. The aircraft was shattered.  In protest against the Osprey crash off the coast of Okinawa, the central office, the prefectural offices, chapters, and groups of Shinfujin immediately sent a protest letter calling for the suspension of flying and the withdrawal of deploying a defective Osprey aircraft to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, and also lodged a protest to the Japanese Ministry of Defense.  Moreover, Lawrence Nicholson, the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, praised the pilot for diverting the damaged transport aircraft away from residential areas.  Many Okinawans’ anger came to boil over against his remark of “colonizer” of the Okinawa prefecture.  A nationwide solidarity action calling for stopping the construction of helipad in Takae was held in all parts of Japan from December 10th to 20th, and the whole country and people in the community where the Osprey crashed increased the sense of unity.

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