ＭＣ１３０特殊作戦機からパラシュートで次々と降下、海面へ着水する兵士＝２３日午前１１時５２分ごろ、津堅島沖（又吉康秀撮影）
【うるま】米空軍は２３日午前１１時半すぎ、うるま市の津堅島訓練場水域でパラシュート降下訓練を実施した。市には２２日、沖縄防衛局から「パラシュート訓練があるかもしれない」と通知があった。県は日米特別合同委員会（ＳＡＣＯ）最終報告に基づき、海域での訓練を伊江島に集約するよう抗議している。再三の抗議にもかかわらず、地元の意向を無視し強行される訓練に関係自治体からの反発は必至だ。同水域では１月にも、通知無しの降下訓練が実施されている。
午前１１時半すぎ、米空軍ＭＣ１３０特殊作戦機から３回に分け、計１３のパラシュートの塊が落下した。そのうち兵士が１２人、残る一つは黒い物資のような塊にパラシュートが付けられていた。着水後兵士らは、約３０分回収作業などをした後、３隻の船でホワイトビーチに向かった。
ＳＡＣＯ合意で読谷補助飛行場でのパラシュート降下訓練が伊江島に移転したことを受け、県や市は伊江島以外で訓練を行わないことなどをこれまでも要請してきた。一方、政府は移転対象は「陸域での降下訓練」との見解を示し、海域での訓練を認めている。訓練が実施されるたび、関係する行政機関は政府や米軍へ抗議要請しているが、政府と地元の認識のずれは解消されていない。
US military ignores local residents’ objections to parachute drop training in Uruma
Over the sea near Tsuken Island at 11:52 a.m. on February 23 soldiers drop one-by-one from the MC-130 aircraft and parachute into the water. (Photograph courtesy of Yasuhide Matayoshi)
February 24, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
On February 23 a little after 11:30 a.m., the U.S. Air Force conducted parachute drop training over the water at the Tsuken Island Training Area in Uruma City. The Okinawa Defense Bureau (ODB) notified residents of Uruma City the day prior that there might be parachute training. Okinawans are protesting to have water training areas contained at Ie-jima, based in the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) final report. Despite repeated protests, local opinions are being ignored and municipal governments’ opposition considered inevitable as training is enforced. In January, too, drop training was conducted over the water without notification.
At three separate intervals past 11:30 a.m. a U.S. Air Force Special Operations MC-130 aircraft dropped a total of 13 parachutes into the water. Twelve of the parachutes carried soldiers and the remaining one held a black bundle of items. After landing in the water the soldiers engaged in recovery operations for about 30 minutes and headed back White Beach on three ships.
Under the SACO agreement Yomitan Auxiliary Airfield parachute drop training was to be relocated to Ie-jima. Okinawa and Uruma residents have been appealing for such training to not be conducted apart from at Ie-jima. However, the Japanese government presents the perspective that only drop training on land is subject to the agreement, and allows drop training over the water. When training occurs relevant administrative bodies appeal to the Japanese government and U.S. military, but national and local perspectives do not align and the issue is not resolved.
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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