U.S. sailor arrested for attempted murder in Yokosuka

   A 19-year-old U.S. sailor from the frigate USS Gary based at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture was arrested on July 5 on suspicion of attempted murder of two Japanese women.

   According to the Yokosuka Police Station, one victim, a 26-year-old woman, was seriously wounded and the other, a 16-year-old girl, received a minor wound.

   Since the second-class seaman was off duty, this case will be handled in accordance with Japan’s Code of Criminal Procedure.

   In Yokosuka, another U.S. sailor committed murder last year. Local residents complained about repeated crimes involving U.S. military personnel. A resident said, “Although I feel the presence of U.S. base and U.S. servicemen is natural in this city, I don’t want a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to come here. I hope there is an end to the crimes committed by U.S. soldiers.”

   The association of victims of U.S. crimes and accidents in the prefecture said, “The U.S. forces should strictly punish the sailor who committed the crime and take effective preventive measures. They must apologize to the victims and provide sufficient compensation. We are so angry that we want to say don’t allow U.S. soldiers off the base.”

   Representatives of the Japanese Communist Party on the same day visited the U.S. Yokosuka base and handed in a written protest to the base commander.

- Akahata, July 6, 2007