MANILA - The Philippines doesnt have a monopoly of crimes involving American troops. Another country, Japan, is also no stranger to controversial cases involving US military personnel. Japan hosts some 50,000 American troops, about two-thirds of whom are based in Okinawa. Under the US-Japan agreement, US authorities have primary jurisdiction over criminal cases involving US military personnel on duty while Japan has the right to exert jurisdiction if the cases are caused by off-duty US military service members and civilians. The Institute for Policy Studies says a total of 5,584 criminal cases involving US military personnel in Okinawa have been recorded from 1972 to 2008. One of the most well-known cases was the rape of a 12-year-old school girl by three US Marines in September 1995. That incident sparked massive outrage on the island. Despite a request by Japanese authorities for custody and eventual trial of the Marines, the suspects were only handed over after they were formally indicted. The delay further fueled anger, resulting in a huge rally that drew 85,000 Okinawans out into the streets. The Marines were eventually tried and convicted by a Japanese court with jail sentences ranging from six and a half to seven years imprisonment. They were also ordered to pay a certain amount to the victims family. In November 2002, a US Marine Corps major was accused of attempting to rape a Filipina bartender. Japans National Police Agency issued a warrant for his arrest and Tokyo asked that he be turned over to Japanese authorities immediately. He was formally turned over only after being formally indicted. The suspect was convicted by a Japanese district court of attempting an indecent act but was acquitted of rape. He got a one-year prison sentence, suspension for three years and a fine of 1,400 dollars. In October 2012, two US Navy soldiers were arrested for raping a Japanese woman. She was attacked while walking home in the wee hours. The soldiers also robbed her of some 76 dollars. The case again sparked widespread anger. The suspects were placed under Japanese custody and found guilty in March the following year. Both were sentenced to serve 9 to 10 years in a Japanese prison. In December 2013, the governor of Okinawa approved a US military plan to move some 9,000 troops out of Okinawa to Guam and other locations.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 05:55:18 +0000
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