TOKYO (Sputnik) — The construction, which was suspended two years ago, resumed on Friday morning, according to media reports.
It has started! The bulldozing for new US Helipads and roads in #Yanbaru forest, #Takae #Okinawa. Photo: S Hanashiro pic.twitter.com/YSn0VtbyWd
— Per-Erik Schulze (@PerErikSchulze) 22 July 2016
The local residents are concerned that helipads could be used by the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, considered to be defective by its opponents.
“The residents of Takae only want to merely live calmly. Please don't bully. Please help us.” #HRCpledging #Okinawa pic.twitter.com/hsOyfbOcKP
— Ma (@ma_ahiru) 22 July 2016
In exchange for construction of six helipads, the United States agreed in 1996 to return to Japan almost half of the 17,500 acres of land in the Yanbaru jungles, used by the US forces as a training camp. The Japanese government had built two helipads but construction of the remaining four was halted in 2014 due to the protests.
Since becoming operational in 2007, the V-22 Osprey has had three crashes resulting in six deaths and several minor incidents.
