Commentary 24/07/04 Okinawa’s bitter memories and inconvenient truths

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Okinawa’s bitter memories and inconvenient truths

Incidents of rape and sexual assault by U.S. military personnel betray the trust and goodwill of the local population

Policemen try to remove people protesting against the presence of U.S. bases, in front of the gate of the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Schwab in Nago in Okinawa prefecture on June 17, 2016. (Photo: AFP)

By Cristian Martini Grimaldi

Published: July 04, 2024 12:11 PM GMT

Updated: July 04, 2024 12:22 PM GMT

Okinawa's history is marked by resilience and resistance, and it holds a significant place in modern history, especially due to the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. This battle, one of the bloodiest in the Pacific during World War II, saw American forces invade the island to secure a strategic foothold near Japan.

The intense fighting resulted in massive casualties, with over 200,000 people, including a significant number of civilians, losing their lives. The battle left Okinawa devastated, marking a tragic chapter in its history.

Following Japan's surrender in August 1945, Okinawa came under U.S. military administration. For the next 27 years, the island served as a key American military base in the Pacific during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. This period was marked by significant American influence and the construction of numerous military installations, which led to economic benefits and social tensions over the years.

In 1972, amid growing pressure from the Japanese government and Okinawan residents, the United States finally returned administrative control of Okinawa to Japan. This reversion was part of the broader Okinawa Reversion Agreement, symbolizing the island's reintegration into Japan.

Despite the reversion, a substantial U.S. military presence remains on Okinawa, shaping the island's socio-political landscape. While this presence is crucial to the overall defense pact with Japan, it also brings issues that many believe could have been avoided.

The most notable are the series of rape cases involving U.S. servicemen and civilians in Okinawa over the years, which has not only left deep scars on the victims and their families but has also fueled an ongoing debate about the overall U.S. military presence in the region.

The 1995 rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl by three U.S. servicemen is a particularly dark chapter in this history. The incident sparked widespread outrage and protests, leading to a 1996 agreement between Tokyo and Washington to shut down a key U.S. air station.

However, the plan has been delayed due to protests at the relocation site on another part of the island, highlighting the complexity of the situation and the deep-seated tensions between the local population and the U.S. military.

Another case that further exacerbated these tensions was the rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman in Okinawa in 2016 by a former U.S. base worker. This case also led to massive protests, with tens of thousands of residents demanding the relocation of U.S. bases outside of Okinawa.

In 2023, a U.S. Marine was arrested in Okinawa on suspicion of attempting to rape a woman and injuring her. The case was only disclosed to the public in June 2023, leading to renewed protests and calls for stricter oversight of U.S. military personnel stationed in Okinawa.

The most recent case occurred in December 2023, where a U.S. Air Force member stationed in Okinawa was indicted for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl. It further added to the growing list of grievances against the U.S. military in Okinawa.

The case was only made public in March, when the suspect was handed over to Japanese authorities, once again raising concerns about the behavior of U.S. military personnel in Okinawa and the need for greater accountability.

The Okinawan people have long expressed their dissatisfaction with the disproportionate distribution of U.S. forces in their region, arguing that the heavy military presence, which includes approximately 25,000 U.S. troops stationed on the island, has led to a myriad of issues, including environmental degradation, noise pollution, and safety concerns.

The U.S. military presence in Okinawa comprises around 70 percent of Japan's total U.S. military bases, despite Okinawa making up less than 1 percent of Japan's land area. Key installations include Kadena Air Base, the most extensive U.S. Air Force base in the Asia-Pacific region, which hosts over 10,000 service members.

The local population frequently voices their frustrations through protests and political movements, stressing the impact on their daily lives and the broader implications for regional security and autonomy.

Many Okinawans feel that their voices are overlooked in the broader strategic decisions of Tokyo and Washington, leading to a call for a comprehensive reeval‎uation of the strategic partnership between Japan and the United States.

This sentiment is fueled by a desire for a more equitable distribution of military installations across Japan and increased consideration of local perspectives in security policies. The incidents of rape and sexual assault by U.S. military personnel in Okinawa are not only violations of the law but also betray the trust and goodwill of the local population.

It is imperative that the U.S. military takes these incidents seriously and works with the local authorities to ensure that justice is served and that such incidents are prevented in the future.

*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.