Marine arrested in rape of 14-year-old girl

[thedrifter]

Marine arrested in rape of 14-year-old girl <br />
By Chisaki Watanabe - The Associated Press <br />
Posted : Monday Feb 11, 2008 17:20:09 EST <br />
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TOKYO — A Marine was arrested Monday for allegedly raping a...

[thedrifter]

`Unforgivable rape` angers Japan


TOKYO, 02/12 - Okinawans have protested against previous attacks by US marines Japan`s prime minister has described the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl by a US marine as "unforgivable".

Marine Tyrone Hadnott, 38, is being questioned in relation to the alleged assault on the island of Okinawa.

He denies raping the girl in his car on Sunday night, but police say he has admitted forcing her to kiss him.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda condemned the alleged assault in parliament, complaining that this kind of grave incident had happened repeatedly.

In the past, assaults by US marines have fuelled local anger at the presence of many thousands of foreign soldiers on Japan`s southernmost island.

Twelve years ago, the rape of a 12-year-old girl on Okinawa by three US servicemen led to street protests against the presence of the American military there.

Similarly, the most recent incident could damage the US-Japan military alliance.

Mr Fukuda said his government would do what it could to try to prevent a repeat of such incidents in the future.

Sunday`s alleged assault has also brought condemnation from Okinawa`s governor and other local politicians.

The US state department said it was taking the allegations very seriously and pledged to work closely with the Japanese.

About 50,000 US troops are stationed in Japan, most of them on Okinawa.

Last year, 46 US military personnel were arrested in Okinawa in connection with criminal cases.

That figure, though, represented a 50% drop compared to the number of arrests made on the island five years ago.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Marine may be held another 20 days in alleged rape
By Chisaki Watanabe - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Feb 13, 2008 7:13:57 EST

NAHA, Japan — The U.S. ambassador to Japan told Okinawans on Wednesday that he took “seriously” the arrest of an American Marine on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl.

Accompanied by Air Force Lt. Gen. Bruce Wright, commander of U.S. Forces in Japan, Ambassador Thomas Schieffer told Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima that they had come to let the people of Okinawa know “how seriously we take this situation,” according to a U.S. Embassy statement.

“We want to assure you that we will do all we can to cooperate with you and the authorities here to ensure that justice is done in this matter,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Staff Sgt. Tyrone Luther Hadnott, a 38-year-old Marine from Camp Courtney in Okinawa, was arrested Monday over the alleged attack on the schoolgirl the night before. The case prompted comparisons with the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Okinawa in 1995 by three U.S. troops that prompted massive protests against the U.S. military.

Okinawa, home to the majority of the 50,000 U.S. troops based in Japan, is considered a linchpin in the American military presence in Asia, and U.S. officials have been eager to avoid a damaging spike in anti-U.S. military sentiment on the island. Okinawans have long complained of soldier-committed crimes.

Two Okinawa assemblies adopted resolutions Wednesday protesting the alleged rape. The town assembly in Chatan, where the incident took place, also demanded an apology and compensation for the alleged victim and her family.

Military officials have expressed their regret and pledged cooperation. Prosecutors took over the case Tuesday, a move that allows authorities to hold Hadnott for another 20 days before formally charging him.

Hadnott’s hometown has not yet been released.

Schieffer was to meet with American military officials in Okinawa before heading back to Tokyo later in the day for talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, who on Tuesday said “we’ve had enough” of U.S. base-related crime.

Japanese police said the girl met Hadnott on Sunday and accepted a ride on his motorbike after he offered to take her home. The Marine allegedly took her to his house instead. When the teenager started crying he said he would drive her home, and the girl claimed he then raped her in a car, police said.

Hadnott told investigators he forced the girl down and kissed her, but did not rape her, police said.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Rape allegations against Marine staff sergeant spark Okinawa protests <br />
By Chiyomi Sumida and David Allen, Stars and Stripes <br />
Pacific edition, Thursday, February 14, 2008 <br />
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CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa —...

[thedrifter]

Corps orders standdown after alleged rape <br />
By Joseph Coleman - The Associated Press <br />
Posted : Thursday Feb 14, 2008 10:15:37 EST <br />
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TOKYO — The U.S. military in Japan has ordered a review of its...

[thedrifter]

US holds hearing for Marines in Japan rape case: official <br />
<br />
Fri Feb 15, 3:02 AM ET <br />
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The US military said Friday it opened a hearing for four US Marines accused of gang-raping a Japanese woman,...

[thedrifter]

Hearing ends for 4 Marines in gang rape case <br />
By Chisaki Watanabe - The Associated Press <br />
Posted : Friday Feb 15, 2008 12:02:35 EST <br />
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HIROSHIMA, Japan — U.S. military authorities held preliminary...

[thedrifter]

Marines’ attorneys allege woman fabricated gang-rape story <br />
By Travis J. Tritten, Stars and Stripes <br />
Pacific edition, Sunday, February 17, 2008 <br />
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan — A...

[thedrifter]

Japan protests new incidents with US Marines

Mon Feb 18, 3:12 AM ET

Japan voiced anger Monday after arrests of two more US Marines for misconduct on the southern island of Okinawa and said it would complain to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when she visits next week.

"I only have one thing to express and that is our true anger," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, the top government spokesman. "We demand serious self-reflection."

Corporal Shawn Cody Jake, 21, was found at around 4:25 am Monday on a sofa inside the house of a local family in Nago city who did not know the man, according to the Okinawa police.

"He was arrested at the scene for trespassing," a police spokesman said.

Another US Marine, Tony Alexander Garcia, was also arrested on Sunday for allegedly driving drunk, another police spokesman said.

Garcia, whose rank was not immediately available, was being questioned by Okinawa police, the spokesman said.

The two arrests came only a week after another Marine was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl also on Okinawa, which hosts half of the more than 40,000 US troops in Japan.

Top US officials last week flew to Okinawa to offer personal apologies for the alleged rape and promised to tighten discipline among US troops.

Machimura urged Washington to do more and said the government would bring up the issue when Secretary of State Rice visits next week.

"They are not showing a sense of discipline," Machimura said.

"We are expecting a visit by Secretary of State Rice next week. We must urge the US government to strongly regret" the conduct of its soldiers, he said.

The United States stations troops in Japan under a security treaty with its key Asian ally, which has been officially pacifist since World War II.

Machimura feared the latest incidents may affect ongoing moves to shift US troops within Japan, although he doubted they would halt the plan entirely.

"We don't believe (the plan) will be affected. But we must review the situation to see if there are any effects," he said.

Last week's case rekindled memories of the gang-rape in 1995 of a 12-year-old girl by three US servicemen, which set off major protests on the island and set in motion a process to reduce the number of US troops there.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Okinawans shaking heads at new incidents involving U.S. Marines <br />
<br />
Date Posted: 2008-02-19 <br />
Only hours after receiving mandatory behavior and discipline training, Marines have been arrested in two...

[thedrifter]

'They are not showing a sense of discipline'


Tokyo - Japan voiced anger on Monday after arrests of two more US Marines for misconduct on the southern island of Okinawa and said it would complain to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when she visits next week.

"I only have one thing to express and that is our true anger," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, the top government spokesperson. "We demand serious self-reflection."

Corporal Shawn Cody Jake, 21, was found at around 4.25am (local time) on Monday on a sofa inside the house of a local family in Nago city who did not know the man, according to the Okinawa police.

"He was arrested at the scene for trespassing," a police spokesperson said.

Another US Marine, Tony Alexander Garcia, was also arrested on Sunday for allegedly driving drunk, another police spokesperson said.

Garcia, whose rank was not immediately available, was being questioned by Okinawa police, the spokesperson said.

The two arrests came only a week after another Marine was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl also in Okinawa, which hosts half of the more than 40 000 US troops in Japan.

Top US officials last week flew to Okinawa to offer personal apologies for the alleged rape and promised to tighten discipline among US troops.

Machimura urged Washington to do more and said the government would bring up the issue when secretary of state Rice visits next week.
'I only have one thing to express and that is our true anger'

"They are not showing a sense of discipline," Machimura said.

"We are expecting a visit by Secretary of State Rice next week. We must urge the US government to strongly regret" the conduct of its soldiers, he said.

The United States stations troops in Japan under a security treaty with its key Asian ally, which has been officially pacifist since World War Two.

Machimura feared the latest incidents may affect ongoing moves to shift US troops within Japan, although he doubted they would halt the plan entirely.

"We don't believe (the plan) will be affected. But we must review the situation to see if there are any effects," he said.

Last week's case rekindled memories of the gang-rape in 1995 of a 12-year-old girl by three US servicemen, which set off major protests on the island and set in motion a process to reduce the number of US troops there. - Sapa-AFP



Published on the Web by IOL on 2008-02-18 10:16:30

Ellie