US envoy sorry over Japan rape case

by Harumi Ozawa
Feb 13, 2008

NAHA, Japan (AFP) - The US ambassador to Japan offered a personal apology Wednesday over a US Marine's alleged rape of a young girl in Okinawa, amid warnings that the incident could damage the countries' alliance.

US Ambassador Thomas Schieffer flew to the southern island and bowed in front of the governor, pledging cooperation "to ensure that justice is done" in the case.

"Every American in Japan today, whether they are military or civilian, wants the little girl and her family to know that we are thinking of her and hoping that she will soon recover from this traumatic experience," Schieffer said.

Staff Sergeant Tyrone Luther Hadnott, 38, was arrested on Monday over allegations that he raped a 14-year-old girl in his car on the island, which is home to thousands of US troops.

He has admitted trying to forcibly kiss her but denied raping her. News reports on Wednesday said that Hadnott had a Japanese wife and told police he did not know the girl was underage.

The incident rekindled memories of the gang-rape in 1995 of a 12-year-old girl by three US Marines, which set off major protests on the island and set in motion a process to reduce the number of US troops there.

The United States stations more than 40,000 personnel in Japan under a security treaty to defend its key Asian ally, which has been officially pacifist since World War II.

Okinawa, which was under US control from 1945 to 1972, is home to more than half the troops, and their presence causes frequent friction with local residents.
The Japanese foreign ministry on Tuesday summoned the US embassy's number two over the rape case in the absence of Schieffer, who was on his way back from an overseas trip.

Schieffer, returning from his day visit to Okinawa, also later headed to the foreign ministry to express his sorrow.
"I would like to express to you and the people of Japan that we sincerely regret this has happened," Schieffer told reporters before meeting with Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura.

"To think a 14-year-old child would be submitted to something like this is just awful," he said.
Komura replied that the US military has made promises before.
"I understand that the US side has taken a variety or educational programmes to prevent such incidents. But an unfortunate incident happened again, so I must request that you review all these programmes," Komura said.

Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima -- a government ally who was more conciliatory towards US troops than his rival when he was elected in 2006 -- called for a "drastic review" of rules surrounding US troops in Japan.

"If this kind of incident continues, public anger will rise and seriously impact the issue of future base relocation," he said before meeting with the US ambassador.

In Tokyo, 40 demonstrators rallied outside the US embassy carrying a banner reading, "No rape, no base."
Japanese newspapers also voiced anger, with the Tokyo Shimbun saying in an editorial: "How many times have we had to face such barbarian acts by American soldiers?"

US officials have said they would work to improve troops' conduct, saying the military has "zero tolerance" for sexual assault, while pointing out that the vast majority of soldiers behave themselves.

The Yomiuri Shimbun said that 32 US soldiers or civilians living on bases in Okinawa had been taken into custody for serious crimes between 1996 and 2006.

The case came as Tokyo tries to persuade residents of the Okinawan town of Nago to host facilities of the US Marines' Futenma Air Station, which would be transferred from more densely populated Ginowan city.

Activists have pressed for the air station to be removed from Okinawa entirely. The US military has already agreed to transfer some 8,000 troops from Okinawa to the US territory of Guam.