At the prefectural government office on Thursday, Takekuni Ikeda, vice governor of Okinawa, told Brigadier General Nicholas Evans, commander of the US 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base in the prefecture, that the incident was serious and malicious since it trampled on the victim's human being. and that cannot be forgiven, reports the Xinhua news agency.
Evans said, "I am deeply concerned by the seriousness of this allegation and regret any anxiety this has caused," indicating that the US side will cooperate with the investigation and trial. But he offered no apology.
The lieutenant governor said he could not stop saying that the education and management at the US bases in Okinawa are inadequate and criticized the US side for not providing enough information about the case.
Ikeda protested the fact that the prefecture was not notified about the accusation filed in March until he was contacted by the Okinawa Foreign Ministry office on Tuesday.
Ikeda also demanded quick and effective measures to prevent a similar case, an apology to the victim and prompt compensation for her, saying that this is a worrying incident for people who are forced to live next to US bases in the prefecture. .
Meanwhile, at a news conference at the prefectural government office on Thursday, representatives from six civic groups in Okinawa called for the elimination of all existing US bases and a ban on building new ones.
Keiko Itokazu, co-leader of a group of women protesting bases and troops in Okinawa, said she feels heartbreaking pain when she thinks of the terror and despair inflicted on the victim.
She criticized the Japanese and American governments and American forces on Okinawa for promising to ease the burden on the bases while doing nothing about the current situation, where the lives and livelihoods of the people of the prefecture are threatened by crimes so serious and atrocious.
The Naha District Attorney's Office filed charges against US Air Force member Brennon Washington, 25, on March 27 for allegedly kidnapping a girl under the age of 16 in December and having non-consensual sexual relations, local media reported.
Okinawa is home to 70 percent of all U.S. military bases in Japan, while accounting for only 0.6 percent of the country's total land area. Crimes committed by U.S. service members and non-military personnel have been a constant source of grievance for locals.
Evans said, "I am deeply concerned by the seriousness of this allegation and regret any anxiety this has caused," indicating that the US side will cooperate with the investigation and trial. But he offered no apology.
The lieutenant governor said he could not stop saying that the education and management at the US bases in Okinawa are inadequate and criticized the US side for not providing enough information about the case.
Ikeda protested the fact that the prefecture was not notified about the accusation filed in March until he was contacted by the Okinawa Foreign Ministry office on Tuesday.
Ikeda also demanded quick and effective measures to prevent a similar case, an apology to the victim and prompt compensation for her, saying that this is a worrying incident for people who are forced to live next to US bases in the prefecture. .
Meanwhile, at a news conference at the prefectural government office on Thursday, representatives from six civic groups in Okinawa called for the elimination of all existing US bases and a ban on building new ones.
Keiko Itokazu, co-leader of a group of women protesting bases and troops in Okinawa, said she feels heartbreaking pain when she thinks of the terror and despair inflicted on the victim.
She criticized the Japanese and American governments and American forces on Okinawa for promising to ease the burden on the bases while doing nothing about the current situation, where the lives and livelihoods of the people of the prefecture are threatened by crimes so serious and atrocious.
The Naha District Attorney's Office filed charges against US Air Force member Brennon Washington, 25, on March 27 for allegedly kidnapping a girl under the age of 16 in December and having non-consensual sexual relations, local media reported.
Okinawa is home to 70 percent of all U.S. military bases in Japan, while accounting for only 0.6 percent of the country's total land area. Crimes committed by U.S. service members and non-military personnel have been a constant source of grievance for locals.
