Anger brewing against sexual abuse by US forces in Japan

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Japanese are brimming with anger against incidents of sexual abuse by US forces deployed in the country.

It comes as prosecutors indicted US Marine Jamel Clayton for attempted rape and injuring a woman.

"A vile crime has come to light once again, causing strong concern to the people of Okinawa. I cannot help but be outraged," Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki told reporters Friday.

He said he “feels anger beyond description” about the crime.

Clayton was arrested in May and indicted by the Naha district public prosecutor’s office June 17.

The US soldier was charged with allegedly "choking the victim, unbuttoning her pants, and attempting to have sexual intercourse with her" in Yomitan village on May 26, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.

The attack caused injuries to the victim who was treated for around two weeks.

And on Tuesday, prosecutors indicted a US soldier for the alleged sexual assault and kidnapping of a minor last December.

Brennon Washington, 25, had invited the girl to speak to him on Dec. 24 in his car at a park in Yomitan in Okinawa province.

Later, he drove her to his home before touching the lower half of the girl’s body.


- Protests against US base

Okinawa province’s deputy governor lodged protests Thursday with US forces for the incidents in the region, saying it was “causing concern for people who are forced to live next to US bases.”

The vice governor said there was a delay in notifying provincial authorities about the incident.

Talking to reporters, Denny emphasized the need to “review a communication system for notifying” provincial authorities about such incidents involving US soldiers.

Meanwhile, at least one person was killed Friday while another was injured during an accident amid protests against the relocation of US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma based in Okinawa.

Despite opposition from the native population, Japan is working to relocate a US military base within Okinawa province.

​​​​​​​Currently, the US base is located in a crowded residential district in Ginowan and Tokyo wants it to be transferred to the less populated Henoko coastal area of Nago under an agreement signed in 1996.

Okinawa hosts the bulk of US military facilities in Japan and locals have long opposed the relocation of the base. They have demanded the government shift the base out of the province.

More than 50,000 US soldiers have been deployed in Japan under a bilateral defense pact since the end of World War II in 1945.