thedrifter
01-11-06, 12:19 PM
January 11, 2006
Wright apologizes for Japanese woman’s death
By Hiroko Tabuchi
Associated Press
TOKYO — The head of U.S. Forces in Japan apologized Wednesday to Japanese defense officials after an American sailor allegedly beat a Japanese woman to death after robbing her earlier this month, the Defense Agency said.
Lt. Gen. Bruce Wright, commander of U.S. Forces in Japan, conveyed his “deep apologies” over the alleged killing by sailor William Oliver Reese on Jan. 3 near Yokosuka Naval Fleet Activities, 28 miles southwest of Tokyo, according to a defense official who said he could not be identified due to agency policy.
Wright was accompanied by Rear Adm. James Kelly, commander of U.S. naval forces in Japan, during separate meetings in Tokyo with Defense Agency Deputy Director Takemasa Moriya, and Gen. Hajime Massaki, chairman of the Self-Defense Forces Joint Staff Council, the official said.
Kelly attended the victim’s wake in Yokosuka later Wednesday with representatives of the Yokosuka-based aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, on which Reese was a crew member.
“I feel so sorry (for the victim). I strongly hope the U.S. Military will take measures to ensure something like this never happens again,” said Yokosuka Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya, who was also at the wake.
Japanese investigators say Reese, 21, fatally beat and robbed Yoshie Sato, 56, of about $130.
The Navy handed Reese over to Japanese authorities on Saturday. The U.S. military has pledged to cooperate fully with investigations into the alleged killing.
The case comes as Washington and Tokyo are working to overcome local opposition over plans to realign the American military in Japan.
In 1995, the brutal rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen in Okinawa set off large anti-U.S. military protests, and led to the relocation of an air base to a less densely populated part of the island.
The rape case also resulted in an agreement that the U.S. military would hand over American suspects in serious crimes to Japanese authorities for pre-indictment investigation.
About 50,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan under a bilateral security pact, 7,000 of which will be moved to the U.S. Pacific island territory of Guam under an agreement reached last year.
The realignment also includes plans to base a U.S. nuclear-powered warship at Yokosuka for the first time, and to build an American military airstrip on Japan’s southern island state of Okinawa.
Both plans are highly unpopular with local residents, who have long complained of crime, noise and safety hazards associated with U.S. bases.
Ellie
Wright apologizes for Japanese woman’s death
By Hiroko Tabuchi
Associated Press
TOKYO — The head of U.S. Forces in Japan apologized Wednesday to Japanese defense officials after an American sailor allegedly beat a Japanese woman to death after robbing her earlier this month, the Defense Agency said.
Lt. Gen. Bruce Wright, commander of U.S. Forces in Japan, conveyed his “deep apologies” over the alleged killing by sailor William Oliver Reese on Jan. 3 near Yokosuka Naval Fleet Activities, 28 miles southwest of Tokyo, according to a defense official who said he could not be identified due to agency policy.
Wright was accompanied by Rear Adm. James Kelly, commander of U.S. naval forces in Japan, during separate meetings in Tokyo with Defense Agency Deputy Director Takemasa Moriya, and Gen. Hajime Massaki, chairman of the Self-Defense Forces Joint Staff Council, the official said.
Kelly attended the victim’s wake in Yokosuka later Wednesday with representatives of the Yokosuka-based aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, on which Reese was a crew member.
“I feel so sorry (for the victim). I strongly hope the U.S. Military will take measures to ensure something like this never happens again,” said Yokosuka Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya, who was also at the wake.
Japanese investigators say Reese, 21, fatally beat and robbed Yoshie Sato, 56, of about $130.
The Navy handed Reese over to Japanese authorities on Saturday. The U.S. military has pledged to cooperate fully with investigations into the alleged killing.
The case comes as Washington and Tokyo are working to overcome local opposition over plans to realign the American military in Japan.
In 1995, the brutal rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen in Okinawa set off large anti-U.S. military protests, and led to the relocation of an air base to a less densely populated part of the island.
The rape case also resulted in an agreement that the U.S. military would hand over American suspects in serious crimes to Japanese authorities for pre-indictment investigation.
About 50,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan under a bilateral security pact, 7,000 of which will be moved to the U.S. Pacific island territory of Guam under an agreement reached last year.
The realignment also includes plans to base a U.S. nuclear-powered warship at Yokosuka for the first time, and to build an American military airstrip on Japan’s southern island state of Okinawa.
Both plans are highly unpopular with local residents, who have long complained of crime, noise and safety hazards associated with U.S. bases.
Ellie