Okinawa Prefecture protests incident of US serviceman’s assault on young girl as “totally unforgivable!” (27jn24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Philippine Ground Orchid, roadside Uruma, 4jn24


A US Air Force airman attached to the US Military Kadena Air Base, spread across the town of Kadena and others in Okinawa Prefecture, has been indicted on the crimes of abduction with indecent intent and non-consensual sexual intercourse.


In relation to the event, Kadena Air Base 18th Wing Commander Brigadier General Nicholas B. Evans and the US Consul General for Okinawa Prefecture Matthew Dolbow visited the Okinawa Prefectural Office on 27 June. They explained their response to the crime to Vice-governor Takekuni Ikeda.


The Vice-governor read out Governor Denny Tamaki’s letter of protest to them, namely, “This is an exceedingly gross infringement of a woman’s human rights. It’s something totally unforgivable.!” He further demanded an apology and compensation from the accused, as well as effective measures to prevent any recurrence of such crimes. 


Brigadier General Evan’s responded, “We are deeply concerned over this crime. We consider with regret the worry that you all have been caused.”  However, he uttered no words of apology.


As for the contents of the indictment, on 24 December 2024, at a park in central Okinawa, the accused, Brennon Washington, lured a young girl, aged under 16, with excuses, such as, “It’s cold. So, why don’t we talk in my car?” Once in his car,  he took her into his house outside a base. There he assaulted her, feeling her upper body and more.


According to Prefectural Police, the girl’s relatives phoned 110 the same day to report the crime. The Prefectural Police did a discretionary investigation and on 11 March 1024 sent in their findings for prosecution. The Naha Regional Prosecutor’s Office filed its indictment on 27 March.


The accused himself was transferred into Japanese detention briefly, in accord with the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), but later was confirmed to have been released on bail.


On 27 March also, Foreign Minister Masataka Okano  entered a  plea to US Ambassador Rahm Emmanuel that there be thorough discipline and prevention of any recurrence.


However, the Prefecture was not contacted. The Prefecture’s first notice was from 25 June news reports, when the Foreign Ministry Naha Bureau confirmed the related facts


On the failure to notify the Prefecture of the case, Governor Denny Tamaki stated, for 26 June press corps coverage, “Our indignation is beyond words. We too have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of our prefecture’s people. They have effectively devalued our prefecture’s people!”


Original Japanese article: Mainichi Shimbun, published Thursday 27 June 2024 at 10:25. Byline: Hiroshi Higa.  https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/619b67571e2be2ef99fc56e8427235a309f04a20


Denny in the News:

Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 


This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. 


Any suggestion on improving my translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.


Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.

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