US diplomat summoned by Japanese over rape case: US

[Bonobo]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US charge d'affaires in Tokyo was summoned Tuesday by the Japanese authorities to discuss the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl in Okinawa by a US Marine, a US official said.

Japanese leaders have voiced outrage over the alleged rape in the southern island and warned the case will heighten opposition to US troops inside the country.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said that the rape "can never be forgiven," a day after the arrest of the 38-year-old suspect who has denied the allegations.

Noting there had been similar cases in the past, Fukuda told a parliamentary committee: "But it happened again. I take this very seriously."

Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvzP_Bl5QZhgd0uxXn5etIgzNTHg

[theoldman]

1. This is not the first time something like this has happened and

it will not be the last. If I remember correctly, several years ago three US service men raped a young Japanese girl. I do not know what happened to them. Perhaps another good reason to bring our troops home.

[kristopher]

2. That one was 12 years old

3 U.S. Servicemen Convicted Of Rape of Okinawa Girl

By ANDREW POLLACK
Published: March 7, 1996

Three American servicemen were convicted by a Japanese court this morning in the abduction and rape of a 12-year-old Japanese girl, a crime that ignited a public outcry against the presence of American military bases in Japan.

Two of the servicemen -- Pfc. Rod rico Harp of the Marine Corps, from Griffin, Ga., and Seaman Marcus D. Gill of the Navy, from Woodville, Tex. -- were sentenced to seven years in prison. The third man, Pfc. Kendrick M. Ledet of the Marines, from Waycross, Ga., was sentenced to 6 1/2 years.

This case is an especially cruel one compared with similar incidents and therefore the fury it brought to the local community was quite large," the three judges said.

The judges -- there are no juries in Japan -- cited the large "psychological impact and physical pain" inflicted on the victim and said that because the rape had been premeditated, "there is no room for sympathy."

But the judges said they had taken into account the defendants' remorse and offer of compensation to the victim. The prosecutors had asked for 10-year sentences for all the men...
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407E2DB1F39F934A35750C0A960958260

They got off easy in my opinion.

Actual text of SOFA agreement is here:
Agreement Under Article VI of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between the United States of America and Japan
Regarding Facilities and Areas and the Status of United States Armed Forces in Japan

The United States of America and Japan, pursuant to Article VI of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States of America and Japan signed at Washington on January 19, 1960, have entered into this Agreement in terms as set forth below:

ARTICLE XI

* Save as provided in this Agreement, members of the United States armed forces, the civilian component, and their dependents shall be subject to the laws and regulations administered by the customs authorities of Japan.

http://www.usfj.mil/references/sofa.html

Interpreted text as disseminated to US Army personnel at one instillation:

Status of Forces Agreement Information

INFORMATION ON US - JAPAN STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT (SOFA) AND LEGAL GUIDANCE:

4. Criminal Jurisdiction.Japanese authorities have the primary right to exercise criminal jurisdiction over members of the U.S. Armed Forces for most criminal offenses. A soldier who becomes involved in an incident should contact the nearest U.S. or JSDF MP office. Personnel apprehended offpost by the Japanese police may be detained in Japanese custody for up to 23 days. The Japanese police are required to notify U.S. authorities immediately of such custody, but are not required to transfer custody. Narcotics offenses, including even small amounts of marijuana, are severely dealt with under Japanese law. If a U.S. military member is under investigation, he/she will be placed on administrative hold by the USARJ Commander, and will not be allowed to leave Japan.

http://www.usarj.army.mil/exercises/sofa.aspx

[kristopher]

4. I screwed up the previous citation

in scanning it I took "customs" as in "laws and customs" instead of customs as in entry control.

Here is the correct item:

ARTICLE XVII

* Subject to the provisions of this Article,
o the military authorities of the United States shall have the right to exercise within Japan all criminal and disciplinary jurisdiction conferred on them by the law of the United States over all persons subject to the military law of the United States;
o the authorities of Japan shall have jurisdiction over the members of the United States armed forces, the civilian component, and their dependents with respect to their offenses committed within the territory of Japan and punishable by the law of Japan.
*
o The military authorities of the United States shall have the right to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over persons subject to the military law of the United States with respect to offenses, including offenses relating to it's security, punishable by the law of the United States, but not by the law of Japan.
o The authorities of Japan shall have the right to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over members of the United States armed forces, the civilian component, and their dependents with respect to offenses, including offenses relating to the security of Japan, punishable by its law but not by the law of the United States.
o For the purpose of this paragraph and of paragraph 3 of this Article a security offense against a State shall include
+ treason against the State;
+ sabotage, espionage or violation of any law relating to official secrets of that State, or secrets relating to the national defense of that State.
* In cases where the right to exercise jurisdiction is concurrent the following rules shall apply:
o The military authorities of the United States shall have the primary right to exercise jurisdiction over members of the United States armed forces or the civilian component in relation to
+ offenses solely against the property or security of the United States, or offenses solely against that person or property of another member of the United States armed forces or the civilian component or of a dependent;
+ offenses arising out of any act or omission done in the performance of official duty.
o In the case of any other offense the authorities of Japan shall have the primary right to exercise jurisdiction.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. ohh lord.

so awful

[pegleg]

5. Certainly this is a tragic event not to be taken lightly, but it reminds me that the Japanese

have never apologized to many thousands raped by japanese soldiers during the war.

[Bonobo]

6. I heard they will apologize for that when we apologize for our genocide of the Native American.

And what the fuck does that have to do with taking a 14 year old girl on her way out of the ice cream store with her friends and then offer her a ride and rape her?