Japanese Protest Osprey Deployment, Demand U.S. Base Closure

Nearly one hundred thousand people gathered in a rally in Okinova and protested against the deployment of the U.S ospreys that has caused several problems to the people in Japan. The U.S has plans to deploy 12 MV-22 Osprey aircraft that will replace the older CH-46 helicopters and are stationed at the Marines' Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi region which are scheduled to be deployed at the Futenma base in October. Safety concerns and the protest increased after Osprey crashed in Morocco and Florida early this year and a similar incident took place in North Carolina in the past few days. Also Osprey made an emergency landing at a field behind a church in Jacksonville, North Carolina. According to Pentagon reports it is said that human error was a factor in the two crashes. Masaharu Kina, chairman of the Okinawa prefectural assembly, said, "It cannot be considered normal to live under conditions in which an Osprey may fall from the sky at any moment”. Satoshi Morimoto, Japan Defense Minister said, ”Japan is negotiating with the United States regarding Osprey operations to assure Okinawa residents of the aircraft's safety. We are considering having this aircraft utilized for Japan's security.