Okinawa Governor Cancels Trip to Protest Sexual Assault by U.S. Serviceman

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has canceled his trip to Los Angeles due to the wildfires in California. He will instead remain in Naha to lodge protests over the suspected sexual assault of a woman by a U.S. serviceman.

The Okinawa prefectural assembly has also stepped up its criticism of the incident. On January 9, prefectural assembly members from the Liberal Democratic Party visited the Defense Ministry's Okinawa Defense Bureau and the Foreign Ministry's Okinawa Liaison Office to demand thorough measures to prevent a recurrence.

The LDP has clashed with Tamaki over a number of issues, including the governor's attempts to halt construction of a new U.S. air station in the prefecture. But the two sides both agree that something must be done to protect the safety of residents in Okinawa.

In the latest case, Okinawa prefectural police said a member of the U.S. Marine Corps in his 30s sexually assaulted and injured an unacquainted woman in a building located on the main island of Okinawa in late November. The case was referred to the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office on January 8. The Marine remains in the custody of the U.S. military.

An official of the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa commented on the case in response to questions from The Asahi Shimbun. "The alleged act does not reflect the U.S. military's core values and does not represent the overwhelming majority of U.S. service members," the official said.

Since last June, a series of sexual assaults against women and children allegedly by U.S. military personnel have been reported in the prefecture. Tamaki protested to the commander of the U.S. Air Force in Okinawa at that time. He also visited the United States last September and pleaded directly to officials of the U.S. State Department and Defense Department to implement effective countermeasures.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi also spoke about the latest case at a news conference on January 9. "What is important is that the measures taken by the U.S. side will actually prevent a recurrence of such incidents and accidents," he said. "We will continue to urge the U.S. military in Japan to strictly observe discipline and thoroughly prevent a recurrence.