Feb 21 2008
US Marines in Okinawa still at it
This is getting ridiculous. The first incident was intolerable, what are we up to now, four in the past month?
Details are sketchy, but a Philippine woman living in Okinawa claims that she was attacked by two US marines in a hotel on the night of the 17th. Police are investigating, and the two marines have been identified and detained.
Meanwhile, since February 20th military personnel and their family members (over 55,000 people in total) stationed in Okinawa and at Iwakuni near Hiroshima have been forbidden to leave their bases until further notice. I feel no sympathy for them whatsoever, and I completely understand the indignation felt by the citizens of Okinawa. The military either needs make a very, very serious effort to get its act together or leave Okinawa entirely, preferably the latter. At this point, it seems like the entire country is against them being there.
Update: Looks like Asahi got some of the facts wrong. Today it's being reported that the local police are seeking an arrest warrant for only one person in the US Army, and it's being investigated as a rape instead of an attack.
And we all know that the US military isn't going to pull up stakes and leave, no matter how many crimes are committed by its members. The common perception among citizens and politicians from Okinawa is that every time someone in the military commits a crime, US officials offer a token response but nothing ever really changes.
This BBC article has a more level-headed report on the latest incident and how the Japanese media is focusing a disproportionate amount of attention lately on crimes committed in Okinawa by members of the US military. For example, here's something I haven't read on any Japanese news site:
Last year just 46 US military personnel were arrested on Okinawa in connection with criminal cases, a tiny proportion of those stationed there, and that figure was less than half the number five years ago.
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10 Responses to “US Marines in Okinawa still at it”
This is only the second such incident, is it not? The the news item that occurred between the two rapes in Okinawa was the indictment for four Marines in Iwakuni for a rape that allegedly occurred in Hiroshima in October of last year, but that the prosecutor declined to pursue.
Garrett's last blog post..Trans-Pacific Radio Interview with Director Chris Parham
Attack on schoolgirl, arrested for drunk driving, arrested for breaking and entering and falling asleep drunk on couch, and the most recent alleged attack on Philippine woman. All within about ten days, I believe.
remember, okinawans live a long time…
http://www.uchinanchu.org/history/list_of_crimes.htm
unfortunately, that's only current 'til 1995.
Re: the old comment, you're right, Rich. I was only counting attacks.
Hadnott was released today.
Garrett's last blog post..US Marine Accused of Rape Released After Girl Declines to Press Charges
I have been here for 23 years and this is all bull. Yes some
americans screwed up and will be punished. But how many
DUI's have the locals had this year? How many rapes and cases
of molestation have happened this year? The screwed up
Americans that do these things make all americans here look
bad. One stat that I received was their were 1088 rapes in
2006 committed by the Japanese. We also know that Okianwa
has the most DUI's in Japan. So you should tell both sides.
Jerk!!!!!!
If you have been on Uchinaa for this long time you must like something about the place, eh bk? Let's all start thinking about all the residents here, not like there is two sides anymore…shouldn't you be considered a local by now? If not, why not?
bk, no need for name calling.
The issue is that on one side the Okinawans see the American military presence on their island as a threat to their safety, and on the other side the American military appears to be either unable or uninterested in mitigating that perceived threat. Personally, I think it's impossible to prevent members of the military stationed here from occasionally committing crimes, both minor and major.
So how come this positive press
http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2008/080314-help.html
doesn't make big news?!?!
Why does the Japanese media always hit the bad stuff?
How many orphanages have miltary members throughout Japan supported every year? In Tokyo, there's a group at Yokota that feeds the homeless regularly–of course, they don't publicize this because it's embarrassing to the GoJ that we're feeding their homeless.
Hi Mr Pav,
Personally it's my belief that every country is a sovereign nation whether the world considers them industrialized or not and they all have a say over what happens with their country and if they really want the U.S. military presence (or any country for that matter) out of their country than they should do whatever procedure they need to do to make the decision. Now if I'm remembering my history correctly the U.S. government is the only country who keeps a military presence in a country they've been in. I don't think we have Japan in our country at military bases do we? Not the last time I checked anyways. 
Speaking of which on a sorta same related note if you're interested in documentaries check out "The War on Democracy" by John Pilger. It's a great documentary that you can find on youtube.com I believe.
I one day earlier this week found your Youtube channel and have enjoyed your video's and saw an older video of yours and saw the website url at the end of it so I decided to come by and see what's up. I'm sad to see incidents like this happen.
Oh I also wanted to add to the person who said the U.S. does a lot of good in Japan too I think you're right as well so that's why I think it should be up to the country themselves and what their reps say to do. If the U.S. really is doing a lot more good than harm in these country's than we shouldn't be afraid of letting those specific country's decide. I know if the situation was reversed I'd feel the same way.