December 27, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
Presidents of higher education institutionswho submitted the written statement give an interview
on December 27 at the correspondents’ club.
On the morning of December 27, the presidents of nine higher education institutions in Okinawa submitted a written statement to the Japanese and U.S. governments in response to the recent crash accident of a U.S. MV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft on the shore in Abu, Nago, and the belly-landing of an Osprey at Futenma Air Station. The statement demands that the types of U.S. military aircraft that have caused accidents within Japan, including Osprey, be suspended from flying over Okinawan land, among other things. Copies of the statement were sent to Japan’s prime minister and minister of defense, and to the U.S. president and secretary of state.
The presidents of the University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa Christian University, Meio University, Okinawa International University, Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Okinawa University, Okinawa Prefectural College of Nursing, Okinawa Women’s Junior College, and Okinawa National College of Technology jointly signed the statement. This statement points out that, “As can be seen in Okinawa Area Coordinator Nicholson’s arrogant comments, the root of the problem lies in the fact that the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) allows the U.S. military to freely use bases in Okinawa.” In addition to the suspension of flights, the statement is calling for investigations into the causes of the two serious incidents, preventative measures for such occasions, the suspension of Osprey training using the helipads in the Northern Training Area, and revision of the U.S.-Japan SOFA.
President of the University of the Ryukyus Hajime Oshiro, president of Okinawa Christian University Hiroshi Tomori, president of the Prefectural University of Arts Yasuharu Higa, president of Okinawa University Hiroshi Nakachi, and president of the Prefectural University of Nursing Eiko Kadekaru gave an interview at the correspondents’ club at the Okinawa Prefectural Government Office on the same morning as the submission of the written statement. Tomori said that there is a problem with the Japanese government’s stance since accidents repeatedly occur. He emphasized that their written statement is, in other words, a declaration of protest. Nakachi said, “For the safety of students, universities, Okinawan residents and regions, we must, as people of higher education, make our voices heard.”
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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Nine Okinawan higher education institution presidents request Osprey flight suspension
December 27, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpoオスプレイの飛行中止要請 9高等教育機関の学長ら
2016年12月27日 12:00
米軍垂直離着陸輸送機MV22オスプレイの名護市安部海岸への墜落事故と、普天間飛行場での胴体着陸を受け、県内の大学、短大など9高等教育機関の学長・校長は27日午前、日米両政府に対し、オスプレイを含め国内で事故を起こした米軍機の沖縄県陸域での飛行中止などを求める要請文を公表した。日本政府は首相、防衛相ら、米国政府は大統領、国防長官らに送付する。
要請文は琉球大、沖縄キリスト教学院大・同短大、名桜大、沖縄国際大、県立芸術大、沖縄大、県立看護大、沖縄女子短大、沖縄工業高等専門学校の学長・校長の連名。この中では「ニコルソン在沖米四軍調整官の傲岸不遜(ごうがんふそん)な発言に現れているように、日米地位協定によって県内の基地が米軍の自由使用となっていることに問題の根源がある」と指摘した。飛行中止のほか、2件の重大事故の原因究明と再発防止、北部訓練場のヘリパッドを使ったオスプレイの訓練中止、日米地位協定の改定を求めている。
同日午前、琉球大の大城肇学長、沖縄キリスト教学院大・同短大の友利廣学長、県立芸大の比嘉康春学長、沖縄大の仲地博学長、県立看護大の嘉手苅英子学長が県庁記者クラブで会見した。友利氏は「事件事故が繰り返されるのは日本政府の姿勢に問題がある。要請文は抗議声明と言い換えてもいい」と強調した。また仲地氏は「学生の安全、大学の安全、県民と地域の安全のために大学人として声を上げなければいけない」と指摘した。【琉球新報電子版】
英文へ→Nine Okinawan higher education institution presidents request Osprey flight suspension