ID :
137557
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 02:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/137557
The shortlink copeid
Gov. Nakaima renews call for removing U.S. base risk on crash anniv.
+
NAHA, Japan, Aug. 13 Kyodo -
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima renewed his call for removing the risk posed by
the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station to local residents Friday, the sixth
anniversary of an accident in which a helicopter crashed after leaving the
airstrip.
''There are several ways technically to remove the current risks of the Futenma
base as early as possible,'' Nakaima said at a regular news conference,
suggesting transferring U.S. military drills at the base in the city of
Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to other parts of the country.
In the 2004 accident, a U.S. Marine helicopter crashed into the campus of
Okinawa International University, which is located near the base. Three crew
members were injured but no casualties were reported at the university.
Nakaima, recalling his talks in Okinawa Prefecture in May with then Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama, said he asked the premier to remove the risks posed by
the base.
Hatoyama told the governor at that time that he had heard Nakaima's request.
The governor expressed regret that his request was left untouched.
Calls for removal of the Futenma base, which is located in a densely populated
area, mounted particularly after the CG-53D Marine helicopter crashed into the
university's campus and burst into flames on Aug. 13, 2004.
Hatoyama at first vowed to relocate the Futenma base out of Okinawa but later
gave up the plan. In late May, Japan and the United States agreed to relocate
the base to a less populated coastal area in Nago, also in Okinawa Prefecture.
Hatoyama's successor Naoto Kan has said his government would abide by the
agreement.
At the campus of Okinawa International University, a rally was held to mark the
anniversary of the crash with about 100 people attending.
''Despite the protests from a number of people, military planes continue flying
over us,'' Moritake Tomikawa, president of the university, said while calling
for an immediate halt to all flights around the Futenma base.
==Kyodo
NAHA, Japan, Aug. 13 Kyodo -
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima renewed his call for removing the risk posed by
the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station to local residents Friday, the sixth
anniversary of an accident in which a helicopter crashed after leaving the
airstrip.
''There are several ways technically to remove the current risks of the Futenma
base as early as possible,'' Nakaima said at a regular news conference,
suggesting transferring U.S. military drills at the base in the city of
Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to other parts of the country.
In the 2004 accident, a U.S. Marine helicopter crashed into the campus of
Okinawa International University, which is located near the base. Three crew
members were injured but no casualties were reported at the university.
Nakaima, recalling his talks in Okinawa Prefecture in May with then Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama, said he asked the premier to remove the risks posed by
the base.
Hatoyama told the governor at that time that he had heard Nakaima's request.
The governor expressed regret that his request was left untouched.
Calls for removal of the Futenma base, which is located in a densely populated
area, mounted particularly after the CG-53D Marine helicopter crashed into the
university's campus and burst into flames on Aug. 13, 2004.
Hatoyama at first vowed to relocate the Futenma base out of Okinawa but later
gave up the plan. In late May, Japan and the United States agreed to relocate
the base to a less populated coastal area in Nago, also in Okinawa Prefecture.
Hatoyama's successor Naoto Kan has said his government would abide by the
agreement.
At the campus of Okinawa International University, a rally was held to mark the
anniversary of the crash with about 100 people attending.
''Despite the protests from a number of people, military planes continue flying
over us,'' Moritake Tomikawa, president of the university, said while calling
for an immediate halt to all flights around the Futenma base.
==Kyodo
