Three Okinawan assemblies and JCP complain about U.S. fighters accidents

On August 26, three Okinawan local assemblies which host U.S. Kadena Air Base adopted resolutions to protest against successive accidents caused by F-15 fighters from the base.

The assemblies of Okinawa City, Kadena Town, and Chatan Town also passed resolutions demanding that U.S. Kadena Air base thoroughly investigate the accidents and announce the results. They further demanded that F-15 flights be suspended until the accidents are fully investigated.

On the same day, Akamine Seiken, Japanese Communist Party Okinawa Prefectural Committee chair and House of Representatives member, visited the Okinawa Defense Facilities Administration Bureau to demand the removal of U.S. military bases in Okinawa.

Akamine pointed out that the accidents by U.S. forces have been occurring in succession as the U.S. bases in Okinawa have intensified practice needed for them to be sortie bases for a U.S. attack on Iraq. He criticized the Japanese government, which does not even demand the suspension of exercises with F-15s, for encouraging the U.S. forces to keep having accidents. (end)