Regarding the plan to deploy the Ground Self-Defense Force's Osprey transport aircraft to Saga Airport, a council made up of landowners of land where the garrison is planned to be developed held a general meeting on January 1 and decided to sell the land to the Ministry of Defense if the necessary agreement was reached. As a result, it was effectively decided to establish a garrison at Saga Airport, and the deployment of the Osprey was expected to proceed.
Regarding the Ministry of Defense's plan to develop a Self-Defense Forces garrison on 33 hectares of land west of the airport for the deployment of the Osprey at Saga Airport, a council of landowners who own the planned site held an extraordinary general meeting in Saga City on January 1 and resolved whether to sell the land.
As a result, 184 landowners were in favor of
the sale of the land
and 49 were against it, exceeding the "two-thirds majority" required for the sale, and the council decided to sell the land to the Ministry of Defense.
As a result, it was effectively decided to establish a garrison at Saga Airport, and the deployment of the Osprey was expected to proceed.
Regarding this deployment plan, ▽ Saga Prefecture received a request from the Ministry of Defense nine years ago and later announced its acceptance,
▽
Last year, the local fisheries cooperative decided to review the agreement with the prefecture that "Saga Airport will not be shared with the Self-Defense Forces".
In February, Saga City also accepted the acceptance, and the main focus was whether landowners would sell their land.
The President of the Council is
Hiroto Tanaka, chairman of the steering committee of the Minamikawa Branch of the Ariake Sea Fisheries Cooperative, who chairs the council, told reporters after the meeting, "We voted 'yes,' and I agree with it because it is a decision made by landowners with a two-thirds majority. In the future, we will report to the head office of the fisheries cooperative and proceed with the discussion."
Regarding the impact on fisheries, he said, "The Ministry of Defense has said that it will compensate for any damage to the fishery, so I would like to conclude an agreement between the fisheries cooperative and the Ministry of Defense in the future."
Landowners who oppose the deployment plan
Hatsuji Koga, a landowner who opposes the Osprey deployment plan, said, "I can only say that I am very sorry and disappointed, and I honestly feel that taking legal action is too heavy for me to take legal action at this time. However, in the future, even if the government asks for a signature or judgment during the land sale procedure, I will definitely refuse it."