 U.S. Marine allegedly threatens Japanese fisherman A U.S. Marine Corps patrol ship allegedly pointed a gun at a Japanese fishing boat on January 5 in the sea off Etajima City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The incident occurred in the sea more than 12 kilometers east of an off-limit sea zone stipulated under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. Shizuma Hisanao, 38, was fishing and later informed the Japan Coast Guard of the incident. His wife said to Akahata,"My husband was thrown into a panic when a Marine shouted in English while leveling a gun at him. He had to keep his back straight and his hands high for several minutes." The U.S. base side maintains that the patrol team recognized a boat intruding the off-limit sea zone and chased but lost it. U.S. personnel confirmed the fishing boat's number, but denied pointing the gun at Shizuma. Kume Keisuke, Yamaguchi Prefectural Peace Committee representative, told Akahata that what the Marines did violates even the SOFA. The Japanese government and local governments concerned must lodge a protest with the U.S. so that such a threat to Japanese citizens will not take place again. (end) |