thedrifter
06-26-08, 08:50 AM
Futenma flights continue but damages to be paid
By Jay Alabaster - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jun 26, 2008 8:09:16 EDT
TOKYO — A Japanese court rejected an appeal by residents calling for an end to late-night and early-morning helicopter flights at a U.S. military base near their homes, but ruled Thursday they would receive damages for noise-related stress.
The Naha District Court ordered the Japanese government to pay 147 million yen ($1.4 million) to the group of 392 residents of Okinawa, court spokeswoman Yuko Maihira said.
The court said in its ruling that noise generated from aircraft in transit to and from Futenma Air Station had led to “stress-related” effects such as headaches and high blood pressure in residents near the base.
But it stated there was no clear proof residents’ physical health, including their hearing, had suffered, and said it had no authority to stop U.S. military flights.
Japanese law states that only the government can pay compensation for damages caused by the U.S. military. Under the security pact between the two countries, Tokyo provides land for U.S. bases and recognizes U.S. sovereignty over them.
A similar case was thrown out four years ago. In 2004, Okinawa residents unsuccessfully sued the American base commander, demanding an end to night and morning flights and asked for 630 million yen ($5.8 million).
Opposition to the base has intensified since a Marine helicopter crashed into a residential neighborhood that same year, injuring the crew. Local lawmakers bitterly complained that Japanese authorities were denied access to the crash site even though the accident happened on Japanese soil.
Japan and the U.S. have approved a proposal to build a heliport on reclaimed land off the coast of Okinawa’s Nago city to replace Futenma. But environmental concerns have stalled the plans for the heliport, which would sit on one of the area’s last healthy coral reefs.
Ellie
By Jay Alabaster - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jun 26, 2008 8:09:16 EDT
TOKYO — A Japanese court rejected an appeal by residents calling for an end to late-night and early-morning helicopter flights at a U.S. military base near their homes, but ruled Thursday they would receive damages for noise-related stress.
The Naha District Court ordered the Japanese government to pay 147 million yen ($1.4 million) to the group of 392 residents of Okinawa, court spokeswoman Yuko Maihira said.
The court said in its ruling that noise generated from aircraft in transit to and from Futenma Air Station had led to “stress-related” effects such as headaches and high blood pressure in residents near the base.
But it stated there was no clear proof residents’ physical health, including their hearing, had suffered, and said it had no authority to stop U.S. military flights.
Japanese law states that only the government can pay compensation for damages caused by the U.S. military. Under the security pact between the two countries, Tokyo provides land for U.S. bases and recognizes U.S. sovereignty over them.
A similar case was thrown out four years ago. In 2004, Okinawa residents unsuccessfully sued the American base commander, demanding an end to night and morning flights and asked for 630 million yen ($5.8 million).
Opposition to the base has intensified since a Marine helicopter crashed into a residential neighborhood that same year, injuring the crew. Local lawmakers bitterly complained that Japanese authorities were denied access to the crash site even though the accident happened on Japanese soil.
Japan and the U.S. have approved a proposal to build a heliport on reclaimed land off the coast of Okinawa’s Nago city to replace Futenma. But environmental concerns have stalled the plans for the heliport, which would sit on one of the area’s last healthy coral reefs.
Ellie