The Asahi ShimbunBadly shaken by last year's crash of a U.S. military helicopter in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, two local residents will receive compensation to cover medical expenses and other costs, government sources said.
It is the first time the government has agreed to pay for claims of psychological distress resulting from incidents involving U.S. forces stationed in Japan, the sources said.
The U.S. military has indicated it will shoulder 75 percent of the total cost as required by the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement.
The pair, whose names have not been disclosed, filed an application for compensation with the Okinawa Regional Defense Facilities Administration Bureau after being treated for shock. The application included doctors' certificates that attributed their illnesses to the Aug. 13 crash.
How much the two will receive, along with details of the illnesses, has not been revealed. The sources added that although the applications have been approved, they are still being processed.
The CH53D transport chopper crashed on to the campus of the Okinawa International University shortly after taking off from the neighboring U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan on the Okinawa main island.
The chopper burst into flames upon impact injuring all three crew members.
While no physical injuries were reported among residents, 61 claims were filed for property damaged in the crash.
The crash triggered a new wave of protest from Okinawans who want U.S. military facilities moved out of the prefecture.(IHT/Asahi: January 29,2005)
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