Peace Committee urges government to withdraw demand for ejection of protesters and give up helipad plan for U.S. forces

Japan Press Weekly

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Peace Committee urges government to withdraw demand for ejection of protesters and give up helipad plan for U.S. forces

The Japan Peace Committee on January 16 requested that the Defense Ministry withdraw a complaint it filed with a local court demanding the ejection of local residents from the site of sit-in protests against the construction of U.S. helipads in Northern Okinawa.

At the ministry, the committee lodged a protest against the Naha Regional Defense Facilities Administration Bureau for asking the Naha District Court in December 2008 to eject the protesters on the grounds that they are blocking traffic.

The project to construct six such helipads is underway in the Takae district of Higashi Village, adjacent to the U.S. Northern Training Area in Okinawa.

Okubo Yasuhiro, the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Committee secretary, criticized the ministry for asking for a court injunction, saying, "The ministry wants to end talks with residents concerned. Doesn't this go against democracy?"

Chisaka Jun, the JPC secretary-general, stated that the ministry must continue negotiations with the villagers who could be victims of great damage caused by the construction of the helipads.

A ministry official rejected the request, saying, "Unless the helipads construction project goes ahead, no advance will be made on the partial return of the U.S. Northern Training Area site to Japan. The ministry is giving top priority to this plan."

Citing Higashi Village mayor's "understanding" of the helipad project, the official maintained that the ministry has no further accountability to the villagers.

Akamine Seiken, a Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives who accompanied the JPC representatives at the Defense Ministry, stated, "Is asking for a court injunction the proper way for the government to gain residents' support? The construction plan is such that should be canceled in terms of both procedure and purpose."

- Akahata, January 17, 2009