Okinawa assembly demands SOFA be reviewed fundamentally

The Okinawa prefectural assembly on December 10 unanimously voted to protest against the attempted rape by a U.S. Marine major and demanded that the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement be thoroughly reviewed.

The resolution stated that the U.S. rejection of handing over the suspect to Japan is a dismissal of Japan's legal system and an infringement of national sovereignty, which is absolutely intolerable.

It stated that the incident, in which violence was used by a ranking officer of the U.S. Forces in Japan, should be regarded as a serious crime and that the suspect should be immediately surrendered to Japan; the Japanese government must make the demand again.

The resolution also demands that Okinawa's U.S. military bases be reduced and the number of U.S. Marines and other troops in Okinawa be reduced. (end)