December 16, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
Governer Takeshi Onaga (right) protests to Defense Minister Inada about the recent Osprey accident on December 15 at the Ministry of Defense.
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After the recent Osprey crash, on December 15, Governor Takeshi Onaga visited Minister of Defense Tomomi Inada at the Ministry of Defense. In his meeting with Inada, Onaga called the Osprey, which has seen continuous problems such as belly landings, a defective aircraft, and said, “Okinawans have strongly opposed the deployment of the Osprey. I cannot contain my anger that it has caused this accident, and I strongly call for an immediate cessation of flights and withdrawal of the aircraft, and strongly protest,” once again demanding that the Osprey deployment be withdrawn. Inada only stated, “We at the Ministry of Defense intend to thoroughly endeavor collect information, make it public, and confirm safety.” Meanwhile, on the same day, Vice Governor Mitsuo Ageda met with Vice Minister of Defense Kenji Wakamiya at the Prefectural Office, and Wakamiya effectively refused the demand that the Osprey be withdrawn. Wakamiya visited Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima in Ginowan and said, “We believe the removal of the dangers posed by U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma is of utmost importance. Therefore, we want to make it our top priority and move the plan forward.” It was the first time a national government official made a comment promoting the Henoko relocation since the Osprey accident.
Onaga requested that the national government cancel the ceremony planned for December 22 in honor of the return of more than half of the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area, which is conditioned on the construction of helipad landing strips (helipads) where the Osprey will train, in light of the accident. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiro Sugita, who met with Governor Onaga at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence, denied this request, clearly stating that the government wants to hold the ceremony. After the meeting, Governor Onaga revealed this fact to reporters. Onaga made the same protest to Parliamentary Secretary Kiyoshi Odawara at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Regarding the national government’s response, Governor Onaga said, “It is exactly the same as the government’s methods have always been, but I want them to realize that this time [this accident] is different.”
Meanwhile, Vice Minister of Defense Wakamiya refused the prefectural government’s request for withdrawal of the Osprey in his meeting with Vice Governor Ageda, saying, “In the unstable security environment of East Asia, [the Osprey] is essential.”
After the meeting, Wakamiya expressed to reporters the government’s intention to move forward with the Henoko relocation, saying, “I think that in the sense of increasing safety as well, it is very meaningful. We want to put in our utmost efforts to move the relocation forward as soon as possible.”
In Ginowan, Mayor Sakima said, “The most important thing is the lives of the people of Ginowan and of Okinawa. I want you to think seriously about what should be prioritized from the perspective of the people of Ginowan, who have endured [Futenma] for more than twenty years [since an agreement was made for its closure], and return Futenma as soon as possible.” In response, Wakamiya said, “The Abe administration will work to overcome ministry and agency boundaries and do all we can.”
(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)
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Onaga calls for removal of “defective” Osprey; government refuses to cancel land return ceremony
December 16, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo翁長知事「欠陥機 撤回を」 オスプレイ墜落 国、返還式の中止拒否
2016年12月16日 11:03
オスプレイ墜落事故を受け、稲田防衛相（左）に抗議する翁長雄志知事＝１５日午後、防衛省
オスプレイ墜落を受け、翁長雄志知事は１５日、防衛省に稲田朋美防衛相を訪ね、胴体着陸などトラブルが相次ぐ同機を「欠陥機だ」と指摘し「県民が配備に強く反対してきたオスプレイがこのような事故を起こしたことに怒りを禁じ得ず、直ちに飛行中止と配備撤回を強く要請し、強く抗議したい」と改めて配備撤回を求めた。稲田氏は「防衛省としても情報収集、その公表、安全確認にしっかり取り組みたい」と述べるにとどめた。一方、県庁で同日、安慶田光男副知事と会談した若宮健嗣防衛副大臣は配備撤回要求を事実上拒否した。若宮氏は宜野湾市に佐喜真淳市長を訪ね「普天間の危険性除去を第一に考えている。そのために辺野古移設を最優先して前に進めたい」と述べた。墜落事故後、政府関係者が辺野古推進に言及するのは初めて。
翁長知事はオスプレイが訓練するヘリコプター着陸帯（ヘリパッド）の移設が条件となっている米軍北部訓練場の過半返還を巡り、２２日に予定されている式典の自粛も求めた。首相官邸で翁長知事と面談した杉田和博官房副長官は自粛要請を拒否し「開催したい」と明言した。翁長知事が会談後、記者団に明らかにした。翁長知事は外務省で小田原潔政務官にも同様に抗議した。
政府の対応について翁長知事は「今までの政府のやり方と全く一緒だが、今回（の事故）は違うよということはしっかり受け止めてほしい」とくぎを刺した。
一方、若宮氏は安慶田副知事との面談で県が求める配備撤回については「東アジアの不安定な安全保障環境で、欠くべかざる装備になっている」と否定した。
面談後、若宮氏は記者団に「安全性を高めるという意味でも大きな意義があると思う。辺野古移設を極力、一歩でも早く前に進めていきたい」と辺野古移設を進める意向を示した。
また宜野湾市では、佐喜真市長が「何よりも重要なのは市民、県民の命だ。２０年間も我慢してきた市民にとって何を優先すべきかということを真剣に考え、普天間の一日も早い返還を実現してほしい」と訴えたことに対し、「省庁を超えて安倍政権としてできることは全て行う」と応じた。
英文へ→Onaga calls for removal of “defective” Osprey; government refuses to cancel land return ceremony
