Japan Press Weekly

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2012 October 17 - 23 [US FORCES]

Angry protests against rape by US soldiers continue

The Japanese Communist Party and various groups across the nation have staged angry protests against the alleged rape on October 16 of a Japanese woman by two U.S. soldiers in Okinawa.

JCP Lower House member Akamine Seiken and delegates of the JCP Okinawa Prefectural Committee on October 18 visited the Foreign Ministry Okinawa Office and the Okinawa Defense Bureau to lodge a protest against the rape case.

Officials of the two administrations expressed their anger about the case and said that they will urge the U.S. military to take measures to prevent recurrence.

Pointing out that the cause underlying this tragedy is the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the JCP group said that abrogation of the treaty and the withdrawal of all U.S. bases from Japan are the most effective preventive measures.

On October 17 and 18, various organizations such as unions, women’s groups, lawyers’ groups, and peace groups issued protest statements and sent letters of protests to the Japanese and U.S. governments.

The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) on October 18 in its statement criticized the incident as “an unforgivable behavior which is degrading and infringes on human rights.” It also pointed out that revocation of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is necessary to eliminate crimes and accidents associated with the U.S. bases in Japan.

The New Japan Women’s Association (Shinfujin) on the same day sent its written protest to U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko.

The letter of protest stresses that U.S. soldiers, who do not respect women’s human rights and dignity, should no longer be allowed to be stationed in Okinawa and the rest of Japan. It urges the Japanese government to request to the U.S. government the immediate closure and removal of U.S. bases in Japan.

In Fukuoka City, 20 citizens made representations to the U.S. Consulate in Japan in protest against the case. Peace organizations and civil groups in Kanagawa Prefecture also sent protest letters to the two governments. In Tokyo’s Katsushika Ward, the ward assembly unanimously adopted a resolution expressing strong condemnation.