Tokyo has admitted that it failed to tell native authorities about crimes perpetrated by American troops
The Japanese authorities has pledged to cease withholding info from regional authorities on intercourse crimes dedicated by US army personnel stationed within the nation, after acknowledging at the very least 5 such instances this yr in Okinawa.
The southernmost prefecture hosts 70% of all US army services in Japan, whereas comprising simply 1% of the nation’s territory.
On Thursday, Overseas Minister Yoko Kamikawa held an emergency press convention, saying that the federal government was “fascinated by how info [on such crimes and incidents] could be higher shared” with prefectures. She additionally promised to implement unspecified further measures to forestall US troops from abusing native girls. Tokyo will unveil its choices within the coming days, the diplomat added.
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki met with Kamikawa on Wednesday, denouncing what he described as an “extraordinarily huge drawback.” The minister assured him that the central authorities was reaching out to the US to rein of their army personnel, based on native media. She additionally reportedly claimed to be “crammed with an insupportable sense of gravity” amid a current string of intercourse crimes involving US troops within the prefecture.
Final month, the media revealed {that a} US Air Pressure soldier had been indicted again in March on prices of kidnapping and raping an underage woman in Okinawa, a criminal offense relationship again to December 2023. One other related case that solely just lately got here to mild concerned a US marine, arrested in Could on suspicion of tried rape leading to damage.
Native police and the Overseas Ministry, which had additionally been conscious of the incidents, selected to not disclose the knowledge to the prefectural authorities, citing the necessity to shield the victims’ privateness.
Particulars of three different intercourse abuse instances by the hands of US army personnel had been equally withheld from regional authorities, the federal government acknowledged on Tuesday.
On Thursday, Okinawa prefectural police mentioned they’d detained a 22-year-old personal first-class of the U.S. Marine Corps for groping a lady whereas drunk.
The Japanese opposition has been fast to accuse the federal government of a cover-up, with a protest rally held exterior the Okinawa Prefectural Authorities. Members known as for US army bases on the island to be closed.
Native residents have repeatedly held related demonstrations, denouncing excessive crime charges amongst American army personnel in addition to air pollution emanating from the army services.
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