Thursday, November 17, 2016

Japan to compensate 3,400 residents over US base noise. Suspension of flights was rejected

The Japanese government has been ordered to compensate around 3,400 residents living near the controversial American military base in Futenma, in Okinawa prefecture, southwest Japan, for various inconveniences, including noise from the base leading to distress and insomnia.


Following similar rulings in 2010 and 2015, the Naha district court in Okinawa asked Japan to pay 2.46 billion yen ($22.5 million) in damages to the plaintiffs.


  • The court ruled in favor of thousands of locals, who had filed a class action suit demanding 10 billion yen in damages for distress and insomnia caused by the din from the base.


However, the petitioners' demand for suspension of flights was rejected, according to local news.

While the Futenma air base, spread over 480 hectares (1,186 acres), is currently located in the central area of the city of Ginowan, surrounded by houses and public buildings, Tokyo and Washington had decided to move it out to a less densely populated area on Okinawa island in Henoko coastal area.

But construction has hit a roadblock for over a decade, following strong opposition from local politicians and residents over environmental concerns.

In June 2015, the same court had ordered damages worth 754 million yen for around 2,200 people, while 2010 saw another court asking the administration to cough up 369 million yen in compensation, while dismissing demands to halt flights at the base.

Okinawa houses over half of the nearly 47,000 US soldiers, and 74 percent of American military installations, in Japan.
 EFE - EPA
17/11/16
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