4 days ago
U.S. military apologizes for sexual assault case in Okinawa
NAHA—In a rare and significant move, senior officials from the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa Prefecture formally apologized to local officials on July 3 for a sexual assault committed by a Marine.
It marks the first official apology from the U.S. military following a series of similar incidents involving U.S. service members that have surfaced since last year.
'We apologize for the anxiety this has caused the people of Okinawa, and our thoughts are with the victim in this case,' said Col. Neil J. Owens of the 3rd Marine Division, addressing Masahito Tamari, an aide to the Okinawa governor.
Owens also pledged that the U.S. military would strengthen internal discipline, continue educating troops on appropriate conduct and maintain joint patrols with local police.
Tamari responded firmly, expressing deep anger over the repeated offenses.
'These actions show a blatant disregard for women's human rights. We cannot help but question the U.S. military's internal controls and the adequacy of its training,' he said.
The apology follows a case that occurred in May of last year, when a Marine was charged with injuring a local woman during a sexual assault. The Naha District Court sentenced him to seven years in prison on June 24.
According to Okinawa officials, the U.S. military offered to apologize shortly after the verdict was handed down.
The convicted Marine has appealed the ruling.
Okinawa, which hosts a disproportionately large share of the U.S. military facilities in Japan, has endured a history of similar crimes spanning decades.
This has fueled deep-rooted resentment among locals and prefectural officials and calls for fundamental changes to the U.S. military's presence and conduct.
