The 1995 Okinawa rape incident (Japanese: 沖縄米兵少女暴行事件) occurred on September 4, 1995, when three U.S. servicemen, U.S. NavySeaman Marcus Gill and U.S. Marines Rodrico Harp and Kendrick Ledet, who were all serving at Camp Hansen on Okinawa, rented a van and kidnapped a 12-year-old Okinawan girl named Masami Yoshinaga (吉永正美, Yoshinaga Masami). They beat her, duct-taped her eyes and mouth shut, and bound her hands. Gill and Harp then raped her, while Ledet claimed he only pretended to do so due to fear of Gill.[1] The incident led to further debate over the continued presence of U.S. forces in Japan. The offenders were tried and convicted in Japanese court by Japanese law, in accordance with the U.S.–Japan Status of Forces Agreement. The incident later ignited surge of Anti-American sentiment among Okinawans as well as Japanese across the country.[2][3]
After the incident became known, public outrage began, especially over the U.S.–Japan Status of Forces Agreement, which gives the U.S. service members a certain measure of extraterritoriality (exemption from jurisdiction of local law) only as it relates to the place the suspects were detained. While the crime was committed away from a U.S. military base, the U.S. initially took the men into custody, on September 6.[4] Although false rumors spread that the suspects were free to roam the base and had been seen eating hamburgers,[5] the suspects were in fact held in a military brig until the Japanese officials charged them with the crime.[4] Despite an immediate request by Japanese law enforcement for custody and eventual trial, the men were only transferred on September 29, after the Japanese had formally indicted them.[4] This delay was in conformity with the Status of Forces agreement, which states, "The custody of an accused member of the United States armed forces or the civilian component over whom Japan is to exercise jurisdiction shall, if he is in the hands of the United States, remain with the United States until he is charged."[6] Although the military drove the suspects to police headquarters in Naha for daily interrogations,[7] the SOFA provision and the delay in transferring the suspects increased the outrage due to the attack, causing surge of Anti-American sentiment among Okinawans and Japanese in general.
The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly passed a resolution to protest against the actions of the U.S. military.[8] On October 21, a rally was held in Ginowan City to protest the incident and the US military bases. About 85,000 residents participated in the rally, including the Governor of Okinawa Masahide Ota. This was the largest protest in Okinawa since the treaty was signed in 1960.[9][10] The then governor of Okinawa Masahide Ota even refused to sign the documents required by the US military base.[11]
As a consequence of the protests regarding jurisdiction, the U.S. made concessions and agreed to consider transferring suspects to the Japanese before an indictment if the severity of the alleged crime warranted it.[5][12] This agreement was decided at an emergency meeting between U.S. PresidentBill Clinton and Japanese PremierRyutaro Hashimoto. The people of Okinawa also placed a full-page advertisement in The New York Times decrying the rape and other aspects of the U.S. bases in Okinawa. In 1996, the United States and Japan signed a bilateral agreement to reduce the amount of land on Okinawa covered by U.S. bases by 21 percent—the U.S. military had previously occupied 19 percent of the island.[citation needed]
U.S. Navy AdmiralRichard C. Macke was the commander of United States Pacific Command at the time of the attack. At a press conference during November 1995, Macke said of the men's actions: "I think it was absolutely stupid. I have said several times: for the price they paid to rent the car [used in the crime], they could have had a girl [prostitute]." These remarks were condemned as insensitive, and Macke was dismissed from his post and forced into early retirement. He was also reduced in rank to rear admiral (two-star) from full admiral (four-star), which reduced his pension from US$7,384/month to US$5,903/month.[13]
Trial
Gill pleaded guilty to the rape, and the other two men pleaded guilty to conspiracy. The trial concluded in March 1996.[14]
Prosecutors had asked for the maximum sentences for the men, 10 years each. The judge sentenced Gill and Harp to seven years' imprisonment; Ledet received six and a half years. Their families also paid monetary reparation to the family of the victim, a common practice in Japan.[citation needed]
Ledet, who had claimed he did not rape the girl, died in 2006 in an apparent murder–suicide in the United States. He was found in the third-floor apartment of Lauren Cooper, a junior Kennesaw State University student and acquaintance whom he had apparently raped and murdered by strangulation. He then ended his own life by using a knife to slice open his veins at the elbows.[16][17]
In 2008, a movie named The First Breath of Tengan Rei based on the Okinawa incident was released.[18]
During December 2011 then-Defense MinisterYasuo Ichikawa was the subject of a censure motion from the opposition Liberal Democratic Party for failing to know the details of the rape. This followed his subordinate Satoshi Tanaka speaking with reporters in a tavern and using euphemisms for rape to discuss relocating the US Futenma airbase. Satoshi Tanaka was terminated as director of the Okinawa Defense Bureau,[19] and in the cabinet reshuffle of January 13, 2012, Ichikawa was replaced by Naoki Tanaka.[20]
^Teresa Watanabe "Okinawa Rape Suspect's Lawyer Gives Dark Account : Japan: Attorney of accused Marine says co-defendant admitted assaulting 12-year-old girl 'just for fun'". Los Angeles Times October 28, 1995
^"Thousands rally against U.S. bases in Okinawa". CNN. 21 October 1995. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
^. International Herald Tribune. 1 August 2002. Archived from the original on 15 September 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
^Adam B. Norman, The Rape Controversy: Is A Revision of the Status Forces Agreement with Japan Necessary?, 6 Ind. Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 717, 724 (1996)
^Allen, David (18 July 2004). "Ex-Marine decries nature of Japan prison work". Stars and Stripes, Pacific Edition. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
^Allen, D. "Former Marine who sparked Okinawa furor is dead in suspected murder-suicide." Stars and Stripes, Pacific Edition, 25 August 2006.
^Fagen, Cynthia (24 August 2006). "MARINE IN SLAY SUICIDE – WAS JAILED FOR '95 CHILD RAPE". New York Post. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
^Allen, David (14 December 2008). "Film inspired by rape of Okinawa girl by U.S. troops". Stars and Stripes.
^The Japan Times Upper House censures ministers - Ichikawa, Yamaoka censured in Diet December 10, 2011 Retrieved on August 16, 2012
^The Japan Times New Noda Cabinet on tax push January 14, 2012 Retrieved on August 16, 2012
January 03, 2023
1995, okinawa, rape, incident, japanese, 沖縄米兵少女暴行事件, occurred, september, 1995, when, three, servicemen, navy, seaman, marcus, gill, marines, rodrico, harp, kendrick, ledet, were, serving, camp, hansen, okinawa, rented, kidnapped, year, okinawan, girl, named, . The 1995 Okinawa rape incident Japanese 沖縄米兵少女暴行事件 occurred on September 4 1995 when three U S servicemen U S Navy Seaman Marcus Gill and U S Marines Rodrico Harp and Kendrick Ledet who were all serving at Camp Hansen on Okinawa rented a van and kidnapped a 12 year old Okinawan girl named Masami Yoshinaga 吉永正美 Yoshinaga Masami They beat her duct taped her eyes and mouth shut and bound her hands Gill and Harp then raped her while Ledet claimed he only pretended to do so due to fear of Gill 1 The incident led to further debate over the continued presence of U S forces in Japan The offenders were tried and convicted in Japanese court by Japanese law in accordance with the U S Japan Status of Forces Agreement The incident later ignited surge of Anti American sentiment among Okinawans as well as Japanese across the country 2 3 1995 Okinawa rape incidentLocationKin Okinawa Prefecture JapanDateSeptember 4 1995 1995 09 04 Attack typeRapeWeaponDuct tapeDeaths0VictimMasami Yoshinaga 12PerpetratorsMarcus GillRodrico HarpKendrick Ledet Contents 1 Reaction 2 Trial 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 ReferencesReaction EditAfter the incident became known public outrage began especially over the U S Japan Status of Forces Agreement which gives the U S service members a certain measure of extraterritoriality exemption from jurisdiction of local law only as it relates to the place the suspects were detained While the crime was committed away from a U S military base the U S initially took the men into custody on September 6 4 Although false rumors spread that the suspects were free to roam the base and had been seen eating hamburgers 5 the suspects were in fact held in a military brig until the Japanese officials charged them with the crime 4 Despite an immediate request by Japanese law enforcement for custody and eventual trial the men were only transferred on September 29 after the Japanese had formally indicted them 4 This delay was in conformity with the Status of Forces agreement which states The custody of an accused member of the United States armed forces or the civilian component over whom Japan is to exercise jurisdiction shall if he is in the hands of the United States remain with the United States until he is charged 6 Although the military drove the suspects to police headquarters in Naha for daily interrogations 7 the SOFA provision and the delay in transferring the suspects increased the outrage due to the attack causing surge of Anti American sentiment among Okinawans and Japanese in general The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly passed a resolution to protest against the actions of the U S military 8 On October 21 a rally was held in Ginowan City to protest the incident and the US military bases About 85 000 residents participated in the rally including the Governor of Okinawa Masahide Ota This was the largest protest in Okinawa since the treaty was signed in 1960 9 10 The then governor of Okinawa Masahide Ota even refused to sign the documents required by the US military base 11 As a consequence of the protests regarding jurisdiction the U S made concessions and agreed to consider transferring suspects to the Japanese before an indictment if the severity of the alleged crime warranted it 5 12 This agreement was decided at an emergency meeting between U S President Bill Clinton and Japanese Premier Ryutaro Hashimoto The people of Okinawa also placed a full page advertisement in The New York Times decrying the rape and other aspects of the U S bases in Okinawa In 1996 the United States and Japan signed a bilateral agreement to reduce the amount of land on Okinawa covered by U S bases by 21 percent the U S military had previously occupied 19 percent of the island citation needed U S Navy Admiral Richard C Macke was the commander of United States Pacific Command at the time of the attack At a press conference during November 1995 Macke said of the men s actions I think it was absolutely stupid I have said several times for the price they paid to rent the car used in the crime they could have had a girl prostitute These remarks were condemned as insensitive and Macke was dismissed from his post and forced into early retirement He was also reduced in rank to rear admiral two star from full admiral four star which reduced his pension from US 7 384 month to US 5 903 month 13 Trial EditGill pleaded guilty to the rape and the other two men pleaded guilty to conspiracy The trial concluded in March 1996 14 Prosecutors had asked for the maximum sentences for the men 10 years each The judge sentenced Gill and Harp to seven years imprisonment Ledet received six and a half years Their families also paid monetary reparation to the family of the victim a common practice in Japan citation needed Aftermath EditThe three men served prison terms in Japanese prisons and were released during 2003 and then given Other Than Honorable discharge from the military After release Rodrico Harp decried prison conditions in Japan and said that the electronics assembly prison labor he was forced to do amounted to slave labor 15 Ledet who had claimed he did not rape the girl died in 2006 in an apparent murder suicide in the United States He was found in the third floor apartment of Lauren Cooper a junior Kennesaw State University student and acquaintance whom he had apparently raped and murdered by strangulation He then ended his own life by using a knife to slice open his veins at the elbows 16 17 In 2008 a movie named The First Breath of Tengan Rei based on the Okinawa incident was released 18 During December 2011 then Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa was the subject of a censure motion from the opposition Liberal Democratic Party for failing to know the details of the rape This followed his subordinate Satoshi Tanaka speaking with reporters in a tavern and using euphemisms for rape to discuss relocating the US Futenma airbase Satoshi Tanaka was terminated as director of the Okinawa Defense Bureau 19 and in the cabinet reshuffle of January 13 2012 Ichikawa was replaced by Naoki Tanaka 20 See also EditRape during the occupation of Japan Sexual assault in the U S military 1945 Katsuyama killing incident 1955 Yumiko chan incident 2002 Okinawa Michael Brown incidentReferences Edit Teresa Watanabe Okinawa Rape Suspect s Lawyer Gives Dark Account Japan Attorney of accused Marine says co defendant admitted assaulting 12 year old girl just for fun Los Angeles Times October 28 1995 Thousands rally against U S bases in Okinawa CNN 21 October 1995 Retrieved 11 April 2008 Road deaths ignite Korean anti Americanism International Herald Tribune 1 August 2002 Archived from the original on 15 September 2007 Retrieved 11 April 2008 a b c Americans Charged In Rape in Okinawa The New York Times September 29 1995 a b Watanabe Teresa U S Japan OK Pact on Military Crime Suspects Los Angeles Times October 26 1995 U S Japan SOFA Agreement Article xvii 5 c Adam B Norman The Rape Controversy Is A Revision of the Status Forces Agreement with Japan Necessary 6 Ind Int l amp Comp L Rev 717 724 1996 米軍人による女子小学生暴行傷害事件に関する沖縄県議会抗議決議 データベース 世界と日本 worldjpn grips ac jp Retrieved 2021 12 28 高田佳典 2020 10 21 沖縄 怒りで島が揺れた 米兵の少女暴行に抗議 あの日から25年 西日本新聞 Retrieved 2021 11 19 普天間返還合意のきっかけ 1995年沖縄県民大会あす20年 沖縄タイムス プラス ニュース 沖縄タイムス プラス in Japanese Retrieved 2021 12 28 反基地運動のうねり 時事ドットコム 時事ドットコム in Japanese Retrieved 2021 12 28 外務省 日米地位協定第17条5 c 及び 刑事裁判手続に係る日米合同委員会合意 www mofa go jp Retrieved 2021 12 28 Eisman Dale 16 October 1996 Retired Pacific Admiral is Censured Unduly Familiar Relationship with Marine Corps Office is Cited The Virginian Pilot Archived from the original on 14 December 2007 Retrieved 8 November 2007 NHK 沖縄 米兵暴行事件に怒り爆発 テレビ60年 特選コレクション NHKアーカイブス in Japanese Retrieved 2021 12 28 Allen David 18 July 2004 Ex Marine decries nature of Japan prison work Stars and Stripes Pacific Edition Retrieved 4 April 2007 Allen D Former Marine who sparked Okinawa furor is dead in suspected murder suicide Stars and Stripes Pacific Edition 25 August 2006 Fagen Cynthia 24 August 2006 MARINE IN SLAY SUICIDE WAS JAILED FOR 95 CHILD RAPE New York Post Retrieved 30 July 2017 Allen David 14 December 2008 Film inspired by rape of Okinawa girl by U S troops Stars and Stripes The Japan Times Upper House censures ministers Ichikawa Yamaoka censured in Diet December 10 2011 Retrieved on August 16 2012 The Japan Times New Noda Cabinet on tax push January 14 2012 Retrieved on August 16 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1995 Okinawa rape incident amp oldid 1125989199, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
