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We Protest the US Military Helicopter Crash in Ginowan City in Okinawa as well as Violation of the Japanese Constitution and the Sovereignty of Japan by the US Military in Response to the Crash. At APPROXIMATELY 2pm on August 13th, 2004, a US military heavy lifting helicopter, CH-53D crashed into a building of Okinawa International University located adjacent to Futenma Air Station of the US Marine Corps. The aircraft burst into flame, and three marines on board were injured. Our worst fear became reality. The aircraft caused extensive damange toa part of the building, thus paralyzing all university activities . In the neighboring residential areas, damage was also serious and life-threatening: a piece of debris broke an iron tube of 1.5 inch-diameter used for gardening; another piece pierced through a metal front-door; a mother picked up her baby and rAn out of their apartment where debris was later found to have pierced window and a door. Miraculously, no civilians were injured or killed. Yet the aftermath of hazardous chemical contamination of the air and soil resulting from the explosion and flame is of deep concern. Students who witnessed the crash are now suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that prevents them from attending classes because of the fear instilled by the crash. The physical and psychological damage inflicted on people in Okinawa by this crash is enormous. Rubbing salt into these wounds, the US military closed the crash site On the university campus and neighboring streets to "preserve the site," prohibiting the president of the university, the mayor of Ginowan city, prefectural vice governor who was in charge during the absence of the governor, and even Okinawa police and fire department from entering the crash site. This was nothing less than an insult. This camus is on the national territory of Japan, on land belonging to the people of Okinawa. Yet we were forced by the US military to take detour to our homes. We could not enter our university because A foreign military blocked us. This action is clearly a violation of the Japanese constitution and of our national sovereignty. It does not fall within the purview of the Status of Forces Agreement between Japan and the United States. Every time a crime, an accident, or violence against women by the US military occurs, we speak up to protest. How much longer will the US military continue this violence and violation of human rights? The US government is deploying its military now stationed in Okinawa to Iraq where Iraqui people are being killed and injured, where many cases of violence against women have occurred. Military force does not solve international conflicts. We, people OF Okinawa, had first-hand experiences of the horrendous futility of war in the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. It is on this land of Okinawa that the United States military has been stationed since the end of that war, these bases have not only been directly connected to many world conflicts. They also have created insecurity of the people of Okinawa by crimes committed by US military personnel and accidents occurred during their training. The US military bases undermine the safety and well-being of people in Okinawa. Relocating Futenma Air Station to a less populated area of Henoko does not eliminate the dangerous nature of the presence of the US bases. We shall never let a new military base be built. We strongly protest to the US government for their violation of the Japanese Constitution and our sovereignty in their handling of this crash. We also express our strong protest to the Japanese government for allowing the US government to take such action. We demand both governments that conduct thorough investigations to determine the cause of the crash, to conduct A thorough investigation oF environmental destruction (cf. air and soil pollution) caused by the crash, as well as the PTSD suffered by local residents. We demand that the results of these investigations to be fully disclosed. We also demand compensation for the damage to local residences. Finally, we strongly demand immediate closure of Futenma Air Station, and return of the land to people of Okinawa. August 20, 2004 Co-chairs TAKAZATO Suzuyo, ITOKAZU Keiko |