Are U.S. inmates at Yokosuka Prison better fed than Japanese?

The Stars and Stripes, the U.S. Forces Pacific Command's semi-official newspaper, on June 27 took up parliamentary questions of the Japanese Communist Party on special treatment for the U.S. forces inmates of Yokosuka Prison in Kanagawa Prefecture.

The newspaper reported that JCP House of Councilors member Ogata Yasuo raised the question five years ago and JCP Inoue Satoshi last April asked questions about the present situation.

Inoue said that U.S. military inmates are fed the same meals as they had on the base, while for Japanese inmates beef is not on the menu, and fruit given once in 10 days.

The newspaper quotes Justice Minister Moriyama Mayumi as stating that preferential treatment for U.S. soldier inmates had better be ended, promising consultation with the U.S. on this matter.

The newspaper also quoted a Foreign Ministry official as saying that the special treatment was based on the agreement in the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee in the 1950s, and that the complicated matter still remains unsettled. (end)