U.S. criminals protected by SOFA

Pointing out at the June 24 Lower House special committee meeting that the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) hampers a smooth handover to Japanese authorities U.S. servicemen suspected of crimes, Japanese Communist Party Akamine Seiken demanded that the SOFA be improved.

The fifth paragraph of Article 17 of the SOFA provides that Japan and the U.S. military authorities shall assist each other in handing over accused U.S. military personnel or their dependents to Japan, but at the same time allows the U.S. forces to hold them in custody until they are charged by Japan.

Such a contradictory paragraph hampers any effort to help root out crimes involving U.S. servicemen, said Akamine.

Foreign Minister Kawaguchi Yoriko was irresponsible when replying that she did not know why such an inconsistent paragraph exists.

Under the SOFA, the U.S. forces can refuse to hand a suspect over to Japan even in the case of murder or sexual assault, and under the pretence of a favorable consideration, allow the suspect to leave Japan.

Akamine criticized the Japanese government for continuing to protect U.S. military criminals while only referring to a slight improvement of the SOFA when a crime committed by U.S. personnel occurs. (end)