Wednesday, January 10, 2001

U.S. Marine Arrested in Japan

TOKYO--A U.S. Marine has been arrested in Okinawa for allegedly molesting a high school girl -the latest in a string of suspected sexual offenses by U.S. soldiers in Japan.
Cpl. Raven W. Gogol allegedly sneaked up on the 16 -year-old girl as she sat by a flower bed in a northern Okinawan town on Tuesday night, lifted the girl's skirt, took photos and molested her, police said. Gogol, 21, has denied the indecency charges brought against him, police spokesman Takaharu Shimada said Wednesday.
Gogol's hometown was not available. He was arrested after a police officer found him arguing with residents about the incident, Shimada said. The U.S. military apologized after the Japanese government issued a request that it ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
"I apologize from the bottom of my heart. We will once again order thorough discipline," Wallace Gregson, the U.S. military's acting Okinawa area coordinator, was quoted as saying by the Foreign Ministry.
The arrest comes a week after the U.S. military lifted a late-night drinking ban on troops in Okinawa, a rule imposed five months ago to curb rowdiness and prevent crime. About 47,000 U.S. military service people are stationed in Japan, nearly two-thirds of them in Okinawa, 1,000 miles southwest of Tokyo.
Okinawans have long complained about crimes linked to the U.S. bases.
In 1995, two Marines and a Navy sailor raped a 12 -year-old girl, sending years of Okinawan anger at the U.S. military overflowing into massive protests.
In July, a 19 -year-old Marine was arrested on charges of indecency and unlawful entry after he crawled into the bed of a 14 -year-old girl and fondled her. He admitted to the charges and was found guilty.
The following week, police arrested a 21 -year-old Air Force sergeant for driving through a red light in the city of Naha, striking and injuring a civilian and then fleeing. He was fined.

New Campaign against New US Base in Okinawa

Dear friends,

The following is an information and appeal on Japanese campaign against a new US base construction in Okinawa. This is an initiative suggested by Japan Peace Conference in Okinawa (Nov. 30 - Dec. 3, Okinawa). We would be grateful if you send us your support & message.

Thank you.

In solidarity.

Tadaaki Kawata (Japan Peace Committee)
**Please take not of my new e-mail: kawata-tadaaki@nifty.com

Solidarity & Signature Campaign

"Save Dugong and Peace ! No to a new U.S. Base in Okinawa !"

10 March - 28 April, 2000

Peace movements and trade unions of Japan together with Okinawan people will organize a nation-wide campaign, from 10 March to 28 April, 2000, against the construction of a new U.S. marine base at an offshore area of Nago City, Okinawa (southern islands of Japan).
One of the main actions of the campaign is a "Peace Caravan" (a peace march) starting from Nago City on March 10, traveling many cities covering all prefectures of Japan, reaching Tokyo on April 28. Various actions will be held in the cities where "Peace Caravan" will visit.
We would like to promote this campaign with broad international support and solidarity. In the starting rally of the campaign in Nago, March 10, we are going to receive delegates from Republic of Korea (Maehyang-ri, U.S. bombing range) and Puerto Rico (Vieques). At the same time, we are going to carry out signature campaign both domestically and internationally.

We are opposed to this plan, because:

- An offshore area of Nago City of Okinawa is habitats of precious species and treasures of living things including Dugong, internationally protected sea mammal. International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) advised in its world assembly in Jordan last October that careful environment assesment should be carried on the planned construction area and all neccessary measures be taken to protect Dugong.
- It would be another burden of Okinawan people, who have for long time since the end of WOW been suffering serious problems and damages caused by U.S. bases and military, such as crimes (rapes, murder, etc), accidents,noise, pollution and so on. Okinawan people is eager to eradicate them and to remove all these bases.
- It would be a real threat to peace and security of Asia as well as of the world. This plan is consistent with a policy of the U.S. to secure Okinawa as a stable foothold for military interference and intervention into the Asia-Pacific region well into the 21st century and after. It would also integrate more deeply Japan into U.S. military operation.

We call upon you to support this campaign and to send us signatures and message of yours as well as of your colleagues and friends.

Looking forward to your active response.

With best regards.

Secretariat of the Campaign
c/o Japan Peace Committee
Shiba 1-4-9, Minato-ku, 105-0014
+81-3-3451-6378 (tel) / +81-3-3451-6277 (fax)
e-mail: LPA01156@nifty.ne.jp (office)

Tadaaki Kawata (resp. international contact)
e-mail: kawata-tadaaki@nifty.com

Signature Campaign Save Dugong and Peace ! No to a new U.S. Base in Okinawa !
A new U.S. Marine Base is planned to be constructed on the northern offshore area (Nago city) of Okinawa (Japan) which is habitats of precious species including Dugong (internationally protected "Threatened and Endangered" sea animal). It would also infringe international norm of preserving natural environment, and would be a threat to the life of residents as well as to peace and security of Asia & Pacific and of the world. Therefore, in solidarity with Okinawan people, we demand: - to abandon a plan to construct a new U.S. marine base at an offshore of Nago / Okinawa. - to reduce and finally remove U.S. Marine Corps from Okinawa.
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* The signatures collected will be submitted to the Prime Minister of Japan on April 28, 2000. PLEASE SEND SIGNATURES TO kawata-tadaaki@nifty.com

Marine Held On Okinawa in Arson Probe

Associated Press
Wednesday, February 14, 2001; Page A11

A Marine suspected of arson has been detained by U.S. military authorities on Okinawa and may be turned over to Japanese police investigating several restaurant fires, Marine Corps officials said yesterday.
The case is the latest in a series of strains between Japan and the U.S. military.
The Marine was identified as Lance Cpl. Kurt K. Billie of the 7th Communications Battalion of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, based on Okinawa. He is being detained on suspicion of involvement in restaurant fires, Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Patrick Gibbons said.
Lt. Gen. Earl Hailston, the top Marine commander on Okinawa, met with Gov. Keiichi Inamine yesterday to discuss the case. Just last week, Hailston apologized to the governor for an e-mail Hailston had written that reportedly referred to local officials as "nuts and a bunch of wimps."
Also on Okinawa last month, a Marine was arrested on accusations that he sneaked up on a 16-year-old girl, lifted her skirt, took photos and molested her.

c 2001 The Washington Post Company

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