Residents demands that state pay damages for mental suffering caused by SDF shells

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Residents demands that state pay damages for mental suffering caused by SDF shells

Residents near the Hijudai exercise field of the Ground Self-Defense Force in Oita Prefecture held talks with the local Defense Bureau for the first time on December 3 calling for the Self-Defense Forces to pay compensation for the mental suffering caused by shells fired at the shooting range.

About 40 residents from three districts of Kusu Town participated in the talks.

Since the three districts are located near the impact area of the GSDF artillery firing drills, residents have often witnessed shells land on residential areas and accidental firings in mountains and forests.

In May, broken pieces of shells believed to have been fired from a 203mm howitzer lay scattered on a main street.

In July, residents requested that the GSDF investigate the incident that occurred in May, compensate them for their mental suffering, and designate the three districts as areas in which residents can receive government financial support to move to other areas.

At the talks, a representative of the residents said, “The government should consider providing compensation to residents who have been cooperating with the base while living under dangerous conditions.”

A Defense Bureau official stated that the government is not considering designating their districts as areas for financial assistance or compensation. He also said that the GSDF is in the process of investigating the incident.

Residents called for a halt to the GSDF live shooting exercises until it investigates the incident and provides them answer. Expressing that they are even ready to hold a sit-in inside the training field, residents urged the Defense Bureau to give them an answer by March next year.

In the Hijudai exercise field, the U.S. Marine Corps is also conducting live shooting drills. - Akahata, December 5, 2008