TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s government protested Friday to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo over at least two sexual assault cases involving American servicemembers on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa which were only recently made public.
In one case, an Air Force member is accused of assaulting a 16-year-old girl in December, while the other, which dates from May, involves a Marine who is accused of assaulting a 21-year-old woman.
The case involving the assault of the teenager is a reminder to many Okinawans of the high-profile 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemembers, which sparked massive protests against the heavy U.S. troop presence on Okinawa. It led to a 1996 agreement between Tokyo and Washington on a closure of a key U.S. air station, though the plan has been delayed due to protests at the site designated for its relocation on another part of the island.
Some 50,000 U.S. troops are deployed in Japan under a bilateral security pact, about half of them on Okinawa, whose strategic role is seen increasingly important for the Japan-U.S. military alliance in the face of growing tensions with China. Japan's southwestern shift of its own military also focuses heavily on Okinawa and its nearby islands.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters Friday it was “extremely regrettable” the two alleged sexual assaults occurred within months. Japan “takes it seriously” and Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano conveyed regrets to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, requesting disciplinary and preventive measures, Hayashi said.
“I believe that the U.S. side also takes this matter seriously,” Hayashi said. “Criminal cases and accidents by U.S. military personnel cause great anxiety to local residents, and they should never occur in the first place.”
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo declined to confirm details of the meeting between Emanuel and Okano and how the ambassador responded, citing diplomatic rules.
Hayashi said Japanese prosecutors in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, had pressed charges of nonconsensual sex and assault charges against the Marine on June 17, which were only announced on Friday. Both suspects were handled by the Japanese authorities.
The Naha District Prosecutors' Office refused to confirm indictments in the two cases over the phone with anyone who is not a local press club member. Okinawa prefectural police said the two cases were never made public out of consideration for the privacy of the victims.
Okinawa residents and the island's governor, Denny Tamaki, have long complained about accidents and crime related to U.S military bases, expressed anger over the alleged crime and lack of disclosure.
Tamaki, who opposes the heavy U.S. troop presence on Okinawa, said he was “speechless and outraged." He stressed the need to “reconstruct” the communication system in case of crime and accidents involving American service members.
”I'm deeply concerned about the severity of this allegation and I regret the anxiety this has caused," Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, Commander of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, who visited the Okinawa prefectural government with several U.S. officials, said on Thursday, though he did not apologize.
He promised the US military will fully cooperate with the investigation by the local authorities and the courts.
Okinawa Vice Gov. Takekuni Ikeda told Evans and other officials that the alleged assaults were serious human rights violations against women. “We find them absolutely unforgivable, and we are outraged," he said.
Ikeda also protested the delayed notification of the criminal cases, saying they caused anxiety for residents near the U.S. bases. He said the prefecture was only notified this week about the December case, when the suspect was indicted in March, and only after inquiries by the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki meets journalists at Okinawa Prefectural Government Office in Naha, southern Japan Friday, June 28, 2024. Japan’s government protested to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo over at least two sexual assault cases involving American servicemembers on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa and the much delayed disclosures of the problems. Tamaki expressed anger over the alleged crime and lack of disclosure. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks at a press conference in Tokyo Friday, June 28, 2024. Japan’s government protested to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo over at least two sexual assault cases involving American servicemembers on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa and the much delayed disclosures of the problems. (Kyodo News via AP)
BERLIN (AP) — Storms in Switzerland and northern Italy caused extensive flooding and landslides, leaving at least four people dead, authorities said Sunday.
The bodies of three people were recovered following a landslide in the Fontana area of the Maggia valley in the Italian-speaking Ticino canton (state) on the southern side of the Alps. Storms and heavy rain pounded southern and western Switzerland on Saturday and overnight.
Camping sites along the Maggia River were evacuated, and part of the small Visletto road bridge collapsed. One person was missing in the nearby Lavizzara valley.
Farther north, the Rhone River burst its banks in several areas of Valais canton, flooding a highway and a railway line.
Police said that side valleys south of the Rhone saw particularly heavy rain, and the body of a man whose partner had reported him missing was found early Sunday at a hotel in the Alpine resort of Saas-Grund. They said he is believed to have been caught by surprise by floodwaters.
Another man has been missing since Saturday evening in the Binn area, in the upper Rhone valley near the Italian border, police said.
Floods, thunderstorms and landslides also hit various regions in northern Italy. Firefighters said they carried out about 80 rescue operations, evacuating dozens of people in the northern Piedmont region.
Between Montanaro and San Benigno Canavese, two adults and a 3-month-old girl were rescued after the rising waters of the Orco torrent left them stuck in their car, firefighters said. Several villages were isolated due to overflowing streams, storms and landslides in the Valle D’Aosta region.
A member of the Swiss army measures the collapsed Visletto bridge between Visletto and Cevio, in the Maggia Valley, southern Switzerland on Sunday June 30, 2024. Authorities say weekend storms in Switzerland and northern Italy caused extensive flooding and landslides, leaving at least four people dead. Storms and heavy rain affected southern and western Switzerland on Saturday and overnight. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)
A man takes a photo of the collapsed Visletto bridge between Visletto and Cevio, in the Maggia Valley, southern Switzerland, Sunday June 30, 2024. Authorities say weekend storms in Switzerland and northern Italy caused extensive flooding and landslides, leaving at least four people dead. Storms and heavy rain affected southern and western Switzerland on Saturday and overnight. (Samuel Golay/Ti-Press/Keystone via AP)
A view of the damaged ice arena taken from a helicopter in Prato Sornico, in the Maggia Valley, southern Switzerland, Sunday June 30, 2024. Authorities say weekend storms in Switzerland and northern Italy caused extensive flooding and landslides, leaving at least four people dead. Storms and heavy rain affected southern and western Switzerland on Saturday and overnight. (Samuel Golay/Ti-Press/Keystone via AP)
The bridge in Visletto destroyed due to the storm, in Visletto, in the Maggia Valley, southern Switzerland on Sunday June 30, 2024. The storm in the night from Saturday to Sunday destroyed various traffic routes. Following the landslide in the Maggia Valley, rescuers recovered two bodies on Sunday. One person is still missing, according to the Ticino cantonal police in Valle Maggia. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)
A general view of rubble from a landslide following storms that caused major flooding in Saas-Grund, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Authorities say weekend storms in Switzerland and northern Italy caused extensive flooding and landslides, leaving at least four people dead. Storms and heavy rain affected southern and western Switzerland on Saturday and overnight. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
Cars stuck in the rubble from a landslide caused by severe weather following storms that caused major flooding and landslide are pictured in Saas-Grund, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Authorities say weekend storms in Switzerland and northern Italy caused extensive flooding and landslides, leaving at least four people dead. Storms and heavy rain affected southern and western Switzerland on Saturday and overnight. (Olivier Maire/Keystone via AP)
The Rhone River is overflowing streets following the storms that caused major flooding, in Sierre, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
The bridge in Visletteo destroyed due to the storm, in Visletto, in the Maggia Valley, southern Switzerland on Sunday June 30, 2024. The storm in the night from Saturday to Sunday destroyed various traffic routes. Following the landslide in the Maggia Valley, rescuers recovered two bodies on Sunday. One person is still missing, according to the Ticino cantonal police in Valle Maggia. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)
A view of the Navizence river overflowing in the industrial zone that produces aluminium "Constellium," following the storms that caused major flooding, in Chippis, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Rhone river burst its banks in several areas of Valais canton, flooding a highway and a railway line. (Olivier Maire/Keystone via AP)
Police blockade for non-residents in the area at Ponte Brolla, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Following the landslide in the Maggia Valley, rescuers recovered two bodies on Sunday. One person is still missing, according to the Ticino cantonal police in Valle Maggia, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Pablo Gianinazzi/Keystone via AP)
A view of the Rhone river, at right, and the Navizence river overflowing, following the storms that caused major flooding, in Chippis, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Rhone river burst its banks in several areas of Valais canton, flooding a highway and a railway line. (Olivier Maire/Keystone via AP)
A view of the Rhone river, at left, and the Navizence river overflowing in the industrial zone that produces aluminium "Constellium," following the storms that caused major flooding, in Chippis, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Rhone river burst its banks in several areas of Valais canton, flooding a highway and a railway line. (Olivier Maire/Keystone via AP)
The Navizence river, are overflowing in the industrial zone produces aluminium "Constellium" following the storms that caused major flooding, in Chippis, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Rhone river burst its banks in several areas of Valais canton, flooding a highway and a railway line. (Olivier Mairet/Keystone via AP)
A view of the Rhone river, at right, and the Navizence river, following the storms that caused major flooding, in Chippis, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Rhone river burst its banks in several areas of Valais canton, flooding a highway and a railway line. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
A view of the Rhone river, at right, and the Navizence river, following the storms that caused major flooding, in Chippis, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Rhone river burst its banks in several areas of Valais canton, flooding a highway and a railway line. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
View of the Maggia river following the heavy rain and storms, in Valle Maggia, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Pablo Gianinazzi/Keystone via AP)
The Rhone River is overflowing the Noes station and SBB train tracks following the storms that caused major flooding, in Sierre, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
The Rhone River is overflowing the A9 motorway following the storms that caused major flooding, in Sierre, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
The Rhone River is overflowing the A9 motorway following the storms that caused major flooding, in Sierre, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
The Rhone River is overflowing the A9 motorway following the storms that caused major flooding, in Sierre, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
The Rhone River is overflowing the A9 motorway following the storms that caused major flooding, in Sierre, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
The Rhone River is overflowing the A9 motorway following the storms that caused major flooding, in Sierre, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
The Rhone River is overflowing the A9 motorway following the storms that caused major flooding, in Sierre, Switzerland, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
