Controversial U.S. private military company guards missile-defense radar installed at U.S. base in Japan

   A U.S. private military company is providing the security for a U.S. missile-defense radar system called X-band radar installed in June 2006 at Japan Air Self-Defense Force Shariki Air Station in Tsugaru City (Aomori Prefecture).

   U.S. Chenega Blackwater Solutions, the contractor that provides the security service, has assigned 60 employees to the Shariki base, according to the city which was recently briefed by the government.

   The city said that the company personnel have the status of U.S. forces’ civilian employees, thus they enjoy privileges granted under the Status of U.S. Forces in Japan Agreement. If they cause incidents or accidents in Japan, Japanese authorities will have no primary right to exercise jurisdiction as long as they claim that they are engaged in official duties.

   In Iraq, employees of Blackwater USA, which has provided security services for U.S. installations, including the U.S. embassy, under contract with the U.S. State Department, brutally killed 17 Iraqi civilians last September. The Iraqi government immediately issued an order to suspend the operation of the company. Blackwater has come under strong criticism even in the U.S.

   According to the U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes, also working at the Shariki base are two U.S. military personnel and about 40 employees of Raytheon, a U.S. firm developing and producing the missile-defense system.
- Akahata, November 22, 2007