U.S. marine arrested for rape

Okinawa Police on June 18 arrested U.S. Marine lance corporal Jose Torres of U.S. Camp Hansen on suspicion of sexual assault.

The arrest came just after the United States agreed to hand over the suspect to Japan at the Japan-US Joint Committee on Criminal Procedures.

The 21-year-old suspect allegedly battered and raped a Japanese woman in late May in Kin Town, Okinawa.

On the same day, all five women members of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly called on the prefectural government to demand a review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), reduction in U.S. military bases in Okinawa, and the eventual removal of U.S. Marines from Okinawa.
The five women assembly members criticized the central government for neglecting to request the United States to review the SOFA contrary to Okinawans' wishes.

They argued that as long as U.S. bases exist in Okinawa, crimes involving U.S. servicemen will contimue, pointing out that each time a crime is committed the U.S. forces have repeated the same promise to take preventive measures. They also called into question the prefecture's attitude in allowing a new U.S. base to be constructed in Okinawa. (end)