米軍嘉手納基地の騒音訴訟で、那覇地方裁判所沖縄支部は国に対し３００億円余りの賠償判決を 言い渡した。ＮＨＫが報じた。
ＮＨＫによると、米軍嘉手納基地周辺の住民およそ２万２０００人が、米軍機の騒音で健康や日常生活に大きな被害を受けているとして、国に夜間・早朝の飛行の差し止めや賠償などを求める裁判を起こした。
２０１６年１２月には沖縄の高等裁判所が、米軍普天間基地の騒音に対して国に賠償を命じる地方裁判所の同様の決定を支持した。
先の報道では、在日米海兵隊を統括する第3海兵遠征軍は8日、岩国基地（山口県岩国市）に配備されたF-35ステルス機能戦闘機が今週、沖縄周辺で初めての訓練を始めたと発表した。
先の報道では、在日米海兵隊を統括する第3海兵遠征軍は8日、岩国基地（山口県岩国市）に配備されたF-35ステルス機能戦闘機が今週、沖縄周辺で初めての訓練を始めたと発表した。
On Thursday some 22,000 people living near Kadena Air Base were collectively awarded $265.9 million in an aircraft-noise settlement. This is the largest reward levied in a noise case against the US military in Japanese history, with each plaintiff to receive roughly $12,000.
The
Japanese court dismissed the residents' demand to scale back the US
military presence, however, stating that it is essential to regional
security, but the judge did criticize the government for not addressing
the noise issue.
The residents will appeal the military presence aspect of the case,
an end result that they desired, according to reports, over monetary
compensation. The Japanese government could appeal to a higher court
to lower the award, as was done in a December 2016 noise complaint case
at Atsugi Naval Air Facility. Similar suits were filed in 1982 and 2000.
This most recent case was filed in 2011, with some of the complaintants dying in the midst of litigation, and others blocked due to their Filipino national origin.
Jiji Press quoted the judge saying that the issue has "caused mental
pain, disturbance to sleep and an increase in the risk of negative
health effects from developing high blood pressure."
Multimillion-dollar settlements have been paid out for noise complaints by the Japanese government just in the last year, although noise has been an issue in Okinawa since the US moved in after World War II. A case in November 2016 involving Marine Corps Air Station Futenma saw $22.6 million paid to some 3,400 residents. Altogether the government has paid over $90 million in noise settlements since the 1990s.
Yoshinori Yamada, a 76-year-old plaintiff said
after the verdict, "The court found that the noise was harmful but it
cannot stop it…I am outraged."
This most recent case was filed in 2011, with some of the complaintants dying in the midst of litigation, and others blocked due to their Filipino national origin.
Chief Judge Tetsuya Fujikura said in the
ruling, "While the benefits are enjoyed equally by the entire nation,
the operations of the military cause various damages, inflicting a heavy
toll on local residents…It is a grave unfairness that cannot be
overlooked," according to Stars and Stripes.
Multimillion-dollar settlements have been paid out for noise complaints by the Japanese government just in the last year, although noise has been an issue in Okinawa since the US moved in after World War II. A case in November 2016 involving Marine Corps Air Station Futenma saw $22.6 million paid to some 3,400 residents. Altogether the government has paid over $90 million in noise settlements since the 1990s.
2016/ JIJI PRESS Military & Intelligence
