Marine's rape arrest triggers Okinawa protest resolutions

NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly unanimously adopted a protest resolution Thursday targeted at the U.S. military and the United States over the recent alleged rape of a local girl by a U.S. Marine.

Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima is surrounded by reporters after a meeting Thursday in Tokyo with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda over the alleged rape of a schoolgirl by a U.S. Marine. KYODO PHOTO

The assembly's move follows protest resolutions at three municipalities — the capital city of Naha, the city of Okinawa, as well as the town of Chatan. At least 15 other cities, towns and villages are planning similar protests.

The prefectural assembly also adopted a petition calling for a reduced presence of U.S. forces, apologies to the girl and measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

In the resolution and the petition, the assembly described the incident as "an utterly unpardonable, despicable act, given the victim was an acquiescent girl."

Staff Sgt. Tyrone Hadnott, 38, based at Camp Courtney, is suspected of raping the girl Sunday night inside a car parked on a street by a park in the town of Chatan. Hadnott was arrested Monday by local police. They said he has denied raping the girl but has admitted touching her in the vehicle.

The prefectural assembly, citing an assault of a Japanese woman by a family member of a U.S. serviceman in October and the robbery of a taxi driver by two U.S. servicemen in January, said, "Malicious, barbaric incidents have never ceased to take place, and we have no choice but to question the commitment by the U.S. military to enforce strict discipline."

U.S. Ambassador Thomas Schieffer visited Okinawa and met with Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima on Wednesday.

Schieffer returned to Tokyo later in the day to meet with Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura.