According to the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, on the 19th, the Okinawa Prefectural Police Department announced that it had transferred a U.S. soldier stationed in Okinawa to the local prosecutor's office. The soldier is suspected of sexually harassing a minor Japanese girl.
The report stated that in June, a U.S. soldier was suspected of sexually assaulting a local girl outdoors on Okinawa Island. After the girl cried for help, the soldier fled the scene before the local police arrived. Based on surveillance information from the area, the police confirmed the identity of the soldier. The soldier was then detained by the U.S. military within the base, and the local police conducted multiple interrogations.
After the incident was exposed, Okinawa Prefectural Governor Denny Tamaki condemned the event on the 19th, stating: "This despicable crime that disregards women's human rights and dignity is absolutely unacceptable. In addition, such behavior towards minors should never be tolerated." He also publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the Japanese government and the U.S. military.
Okinawa Prefectural Governor Denny Tamaki, "Ryukyu Shimpo"
For a long time, crimes committed by U.S. troops stationed in Japan have been frequent, and Okinawa has been a hotspot for U.S. military crimes. According to statistics from the Okinawa Prefectural Police, there were at least 82 crimes related to U.S. personnel in the region from January to October this year, exceeding the record of 73 cases from the entire previous year. Moreover, the 73 cases in 2024 were the highest number of U.S. military crimes in the past 20 years in the area.
Under the long-term protests from all sides in Okinawa, the U.S. military also expressed an intention to strengthen the restraint of U.S. soldiers and carried out joint patrols with the local authorities, but the results were minimal. Faced with increasing U.S. military crimes, Governor Tamaki questioned: If the U.S. truly conducted proper "education," these incidents could have been avoided.
The relevant departments of the Okinawa prefectural government stated that they would cooperate with relevant organizations to alleviate the physical and mental burdens of the victims and help them recover their health. Additionally, to protect the victims, they will not release more specific information about the cases.
This article is an exclusive work of Observer, and without permission, it cannot be reprinted.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7574607796625343003/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author. Please express your attitude by clicking on the [top/like] or [down/down] buttons below.