NAHA, Japan, Feb. 14 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The Okinawa prefectural assembly unanimously adopted on Thursday a resolution protesting the U.S. military and the United States over the recent alleged rape of a local girl by a U.S. Marine.
The assembly of the nation's southernmost prefecture also adopted a petition, calling for a reduced presence of U.S. forces, apologies to the girl and measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
In the resolution and the petition, the assembly described the incident as "an utterly unpardonable, despicable act, given the victim was an acquiescent girl."
Tyrone Hadnott, a 38-year-old staff sergeant at Camp Courtney is suspected of raping the girl on Sunday night inside a car parked on a street by a park in the town of Chatan. Hadnott was arrested Monday by local police. The police said he has denied raping the girl but has admitted to touching her in the vehicle.
The prefectural assembly, citing an assault of a Japanese woman by a family member of a U.S. serviceman in October and a robbery of a taxi driver by two U.S. servicemen in January, said, "Malicious, barbaric incidents have never ceased to take place, and we have no choice but to question the commitment by the U.S. military to enforce strict discipline."
The prefectural assembly's move follows protest resolutions of three municipalities -- the capital city of Naha, the city of Okinawa, as well as Chatan. At least 15 other cities, towns and villages are planning to lodge similar protests.
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