'Our Rage Is Indescribable': Okinawan Officials Slam 'Yet Another Incident,' Impunity in Wake of Rape by US Soldiers

"With overwhelming indignation, we must question the present efforts of the US Forces to prevent such incidents from happening," the resolution passed by Okinawa officials stated. (AFP/File, Yoshikazu Tsuno)

'Our Rage Is Indescribable': Okinawan Officials Slam 'Yet Another Incident,' Impunity in Wake of Rape by US Soldiers

Okinawan officials pass resolution on Monday expressing "overwhelming indignation" over rape of Japanese woman by US forces

The recent rape of a woman has added fuel to the fire of resentment over U.S. troops on the Japanese island of Okinawa causing local lawmakers to pass a protest resolution on Monday expressing "indignation" over troops committing crimes with impunity, and has fueled calls to rid the island of U.S. bases.

The most recent incident of the 5,747 crimes committed by U.S. military personnel since Okinawa was returned to Japanese control in 1972 involves the rape of a Japanese woman by two 23-year-old U.S. sailors, who both now admit to the charge.

"Yet another incident has taken place. In fact, the severity of the incidents is intensifying," the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly resolution said. "With overwhelming indignation, we must question the present efforts of the US Forces to prevent such incidents from happening."

Masaharu Kina, chair of the assembly, told reporters, "Our rage is indescribable."

Kyodo news reports that the resolution "also said the incident, coupled with the deployment of Osprey aircraft at a U.S. base in Okinawa, 'have prompted the residents here to raise voices to seek complete removal of U.S. bases in Okinawa.'"

Okinawa governor Hirokazu Nakaima told reporters in Washington on Sunday, "We are so fed up with this because incidents like this have often occurred since before," and said, "I must let (Americans) know of such sentiment in Okinawa."

Agence France-Presse reports that about half of the 47,000 US military personnel based in Japan are stationed in Okinawa.

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.