The US government is planned to deploy in July dangerous aircraft Ospreys in Futenma Airfield in Okinawa: first 12 aerial vehicles will be stationed and, finally, 24. Residents of Okinawa have been unanimously indignant with the deployment plan of aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. The Noda government as well as Ministry of Defense takes deceitful techniques to appease inhabitants. Let's get united to stage opposition campaigns to prevent the plan.


LET'S REPEL AIRCRAFT DEPLOYMENT PLAN!


An MV-22 Osprey is a multi-mission transport aircraft which can take off and land vertically or do by running short on the runway: it goes up and down like a helicopter with gigantic propellers rolling in the upward position and then flies, tilting them in the horizontal position. It is in a peculiar form.


It has multiple functions: it carries 25 people in the aerial tactics, drops materials to the ground and transport injured and sick soldiers. In 1999 the first mass-produced units entered operation. The US Department of Defense is planned to procure 458 aircraft, of which the Marines will have 360, the special operation troops, 50, and the Navy, 48.


Unstable and Dangerous


The aircraft has had fatal accidents due to its unstable functions. In the decade of 1990 at the test flight stage two accidents occurred, one was a turnover and the other was a crash, causing seven deaths and injuring two. After the mass production stage, the aircraft involved in four crashes, killing 29 and injuring 18. Under these circumstances the US government has suspended the program several times, partly, because of a budgetary problem, but 'a political interference' of the Department of Defense and arms manufacturers has revived it.


Detailed information on the recent accident, which took place in April off the coast of Morocco, remains unclear as the US military says 'a report will be finalized late this year', though it stated that there had not been any technical failure.


Don't Deploy V22s Anywhere!


The original schedule was to bring aircraft components at Naha Military Port, Okinawa, to assemble and test-fly, and then transfer aircraft to station at Futenma airfield. But residents in Okinawa, including Governor and mayors of relevant municipalities, were furious about the plan. Both of US and Japan governments took an option to deliver, assemble and test-fly at US Iwakuni Base, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western most of the Honshu Island. Defense Minister Morimoto replied that he would visit Iwakuni city for briefing, but immediately after his remark a V22 aircraft crashed during the training mission in US (fiver got injured). The Ministry suspended hastily relevant procedures for deployment.


The US military is impatient as the deployment plan is crippled due to residents' strong opposition to construction of a new base in Henoko area and criticisms raised by the US Senate, and therefore, it inclines to keep using the Futenma airfield. The military has been criticized, too, that it intended to have the government of Japan pay for reinforcement cost of runways so as to station Osprey aircraft.


Simultaneously, the Defense Facilities Administration Bureau forcibly has built six helipads (for a helicopter to take off and land) at the Takae area, north of Henoko, which may be used for flying exercises of the aircraft.


If deployed, that could bring dangers to a human life and increase noises. The US authority will fly the aircraft regularly to Camp Fuji and Iwakuni Base every month and conduct training missions across the nation from Aomori Prefecture to the Kyushu Island. Don't deploy and fly Ospreys at any place.


No More, Noda Government!


After taking office of Minister, Mr. Morimoto Satoshi told that 'a pledge between the two governments to construct a new base is very significant' and that he 'would make his best to fulfill duties'. He is from the Air Self Defense Forces, then shifting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, being Professor of the Defense Academy and serving as a member on the government panel on the 21st century reforms. He insists on the right of collective defense of Japan, which is prohibited by Constitution. He is Guardian for bureaucrats of the foreign and defense affairs as well as politicians who advocate amendment of Constitution. His nomination, however, violates the constitution which stipulates Minister should be 'a civilian'. He is from the military and not a supporter of Constitution.


Noda Government has decided on deployment of Ospreys, re-activation of nuclear power plants, a surge of the consumption tax rate and participation in a TPP (trans-Pacific Partnership) agreement. It chooses a way to destroy people's life. The Noda Government must be removed as soon as possible.


June 26, 2012