US Man Arrested in Connection With Disappearance of Okinawa Woman

[bobsm]

Japan protests to US over Okinawa woman's suspicious death

Japan lodged a diplomatic protest late Thursday with the United States after a US base worker was arrested in relation to the suspicious death of a woman on Okinawa, media reported,

• Posted 20 May 2016 03:12
  
• Updated 20 May 2016 05:03

People hold banners as they listen to a speaker during a rally against a new US military base in Okinawa, on Feb 21, 2016 in Tokyo. (Photo: AFP/Toru Yamanaka)

TOKYO: Japan lodged a protest on Thursday (MAy 19) with the United States after a US base worker was arrested in connection to the suspicious death of an Okinawa woman, media reported, a week before President Barack Obama pays a high-profile visit to the country.

Okinawa was the site of brutal fighting in World War II but is now considered a strategic linchpin supporting the two countries' decades-long security alliance.

More than half of the 47,000 US military personnel in Japan are stationed on Okinawa, and crimes by service personnel - including rapes - have sparked angry local protests in the past.

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida summoned US ambassador Caroline Kennedy to the foreign ministry in Tokyo shortly after Okinawa police arrested a 32-year-old civilian US base worker in connection with the death of a 20-year-old Okinawa woman.

"It is extremely regrettable that the very cruel and atrocious case occurred," Kishida told Kennedy, according to Nippon Television Network.

Police arrested Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, a former US Marine who lives in southern Okinawa and works at the US Air Force's Kadena Air Base, for allegedly disposing of the woman's body.

Local media said police suspect Shinzato murdered the victim, identified as Rina Shimabukuro, who had been missing since late April.

We "extend our deepest sympathies to the people of Japan, and express our gratitude for the trust that they place in our bilateral alliance and the American people," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said, vowing to assist the investigation "in any way that we can."

US State Department spokesman John Kirby called the case a tragedy that was "obviously an outrage."

Shimabukuro's body was found in a weed-covered area in southern Okinawa after investigators conducted a search based on the suspect's deposition, while police found DNA matching the dead woman's in the man's car, Kyodo news agency said.

In 1995 the abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl on Okinawa by three US servicemen sparked massive protests, prompting Washington to pledge efforts to strengthen troop discipline to prevent such crimes and reduce the US footprint on the island.

But continued crimes by American personnel remain an irritant - a potent rallying point for Okinawans and others in Japan who oppose the presence of the bases on the crowded island, where pacifist sentiment runs high.

The arrest came ahead of Obama's trip to Japan next week to attend a Group of Seven summit and to make a landmark visit to Hiroshima in his final year in office.

Obama will become the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima, where the first atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, killing an estimated 140,000 people, either directly or from the bombing's after-effects.

- AFP/ec

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/japan-protests-to-us-over/2801246.html

 

[TaiShang]

Okinawa Murder: ‘US Soldiers Ruthless as They Are Protected by US Umbrella’

20:42 20.05.2016(updated 23:19 20.05.2016) Get short URL

The Japanese government demands that the United States toughen disciplinary measures at its military bases in the country following the arrest of a US national over alleged links to the murder of a young Japanese woman in Okinawa. Radio Sputnik spoke with Ryan Dawson, a human rights activist in Tokyo.

“Within Okinawa they are always protesting US bases, not only for their presence but just the amount of crime constantly surrounding them because of the loophole that says crimes committed by people who flee to the base; those people cannot be turned over to the Japanese authorities until they are invited in.”

He further said that because of this loophole, “the investigations can’t be conducted properly because they can hide on the base while crucial evidence is slipping by and this has been ongoing and Okinawa has protested this constantly but Tokyo ignores them because of US pressure.”

© AP Photo/ Eugene Hoshiko

US Man Arrested in Connection With Disappearance of Okinawa Woman

Dawson said that the reason why the US soldiers based in Okinawa are so ruthless is because, "they are 18 and 19-year-old military personnel who are getting sent to these cultures that they do not understand and there is a lot of drinking involved and they have access to a lot of weapons. They get into trouble but are protected by the US umbrella because the US doesn’t need the embarrassment and it tries to hide as much as it can," Dawson said.

The analyst further said that this was a murder case and the man confessed but there are so many rape cases which do not get coverage and the perpetrators get away with the crime.

The analyst further spoke about why there is such a large presence of military personnel in Okinawa and what the benefits to Tokyo are.

“There are too many people making too much money off it and they are mostly concentrated in Tokyo. So Tokyo doesn’t have to deal with the problems because the US gives Japan a lot of benefits for accepting this base but the benefits go to Tokyo not Okinawa.”

Talking about the murder of the 20-year-old girl, the analyst said that currently her autopsy is underway. The murderer has been apprehended although he is a military contractor and under other circumstances he could not have been tried by the Japanese court. But because he was off-duty when the murder took place he will be punished under the Japanese legal system.

“I can guarantee to you that the Japanese legal system will be a lot stricter than the US system, he will probably get the death penalty,” the analyst concluded.



Read more: http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160520/1039996880/murder-okinawa-us-soldiers.html#ixzz49I1Djvtk

 

[dy1022]

very sad story!!!

 

[jhungary]

I don't know what to write.......a Criminal committed a Crime. And He's been arrested and will remain in Jail for the remainder of his life. End of the story, justice served. Why do we have to see people with "An American"? or "A Chinese"?? A criminal is a criminal, no matter how he looks or where he comes from. If this guy was a Chinese or a Hindu, would be immediately somehow imply that an entire nation has criminal intend towards the other? In this case towards a 70 year old relationship and an ally who we work with and protect (US and Japan)??

This thread should've been closed after the first few posts. Not sure why people are getting high off it!!



Says who? A Russian wana be European?? . You want me to list out your Comrades crimes on here? A lot of them are pretty shameful and the list is in hundreds if not thousands!



India is hosting the US forces. The process in bigger/larger numbers is about to start in the next few months

Lol some have already removed their posts! Scared already!

I guess if this case is any representation of US government stance in Japan, then Chinese delegate should all be evicted/expelled in Australia

http://www.scmp.com/news/china-insi...inese-delegate-melbourne-charged-rape-student

At least this Chinese dude represent the Chinese Government, how dare him raping our Aussie Women? We should kick all the Chinese delegate out of Australia then....

 

[TaiShang]

Okinawa Woman’s Murder: Hard to Imagine Worse Situation for Japan-US Ties

21:54 21.05.2016(updated 01:24 22.05.2016)

Massive protests were held on a military base in Kadena, Okinawa following the murder of a young Japanese woman by an American soldier. This is not the first time that the US military personnel have committed crimes in Japan.

Murder Case in Okinawa: ‘US Soldiers Are Ruthless Because They Are Protected by US Umbrella’


One of the most notorious cases was the rape of a 12-year-old schoolgirl in Okinawa by US Marines in 1995. The incident received wide publicity and led to mass protests.

The recent tragic incident could cause a new wave of anti-Americanism, which is strong in Okinawa, as it houses most of the US military bases, which is according to the head of the Center for Japanese Studies, Valery Kistanov.

“A worse situation for Japan-US relations than the current one is difficult to imagine. This is due to the fact that on May 27 US President Obama is expected to visit Hiroshima after participating in the G7 summit. This visit is seen as historic, as it has been long sought after in Japan by the authorities and public opinion.”

The analyst said that the visit is planned to extract a painful thorn from the Japan-US relations over the US atomic bombings.

“But now the tragic murder may cast a dark shadow on the Japan-US military alliance and the US troops in Japan. The Japanese authorities are concerned and that can be seen by their quick reaction to the incident. Prime Minister Abe has said that he will personally talk with Obama at a summit about this case,” Kistanov said.

In addition, Japan's Foreign Ministry summoned the US ambassador for an explanation. “The commander of the US forces in Japan has already apologized, although, as it is known, Americans do not apologize,” the analyst added.


Although the Japanese side has demanded that the US make every effort to prevent such incidents in the future, it is obvious that this cannot be achieved, Kistanov noted.

“In order to avoid such tragic incidents in the future, it is necessary to either not allow Americans to leave the base or to withdraw US forces from Japan. However, it is clear that neither of these options is actually possible. Therefore, such cases will continue.”

“The Americans are unlikely to agree to remove their bases from Okinawa because from this archipelago they are keeping an eye on China and the situation on the Korean peninsula,” the analyst concluded.

 

[AndrewJin]

Okinawa Woman’s Murder: Hard to Imagine Worse Situation for Japan-US Ties

21:54 21.05.2016(updated 01:24 22.05.2016)

Massive protests were held on a military base in Kadena, Okinawa following the murder of a young Japanese woman by an American soldier. This is not the first time that the US military personnel have committed crimes in Japan.

Murder Case in Okinawa: ‘US Soldiers Are Ruthless Because They Are Protected by US Umbrella’


One of the most notorious cases was the rape of a 12-year-old schoolgirl in Okinawa by US Marines in 1995. The incident received wide publicity and led to mass protests.

The recent tragic incident could cause a new wave of anti-Americanism, which is strong in Okinawa, as it houses most of the US military bases, which is according to the head of the Center for Japanese Studies, Valery Kistanov.

“A worse situation for Japan-US relations than the current one is difficult to imagine. This is due to the fact that on May 27 US President Obama is expected to visit Hiroshima after participating in the G7 summit. This visit is seen as historic, as it has been long sought after in Japan by the authorities and public opinion.”

The analyst said that the visit is planned to extract a painful thorn from the Japan-US relations over the US atomic bombings.

“But now the tragic murder may cast a dark shadow on the Japan-US military alliance and the US troops in Japan. The Japanese authorities are concerned and that can be seen by their quick reaction to the incident. Prime Minister Abe has said that he will personally talk with Obama at a summit about this case,” Kistanov said.

In addition, Japan's Foreign Ministry summoned the US ambassador for an explanation. “The commander of the US forces in Japan has already apologized, although, as it is known, Americans do not apologize,” the analyst added.


Although the Japanese side has demanded that the US make every effort to prevent such incidents in the future, it is obvious that this cannot be achieved, Kistanov noted.

“In order to avoid such tragic incidents in the future, it is necessary to either not allow Americans to leave the base or to withdraw US forces from Japan. However, it is clear that neither of these options is actually possible. Therefore, such cases will continue.”

“The Americans are unlikely to agree to remove their bases from Okinawa because from this archipelago they are keeping an eye on China and the situation on the Korean peninsula,” the analyst concluded.

Very glad to see not everyone in the US-conquered allies see themselves as servants to the white masters.
They are the real patriotic citizens for Japan's long-term welfare.
I totally understand the mentality of many non-white PDFers with American passports.
But they should understand, a passport does not grant you full citizenship and respect, according to whites and Trump.
No matter how good your English is, they will still ask you, "where are you from" and "you speak really good English"!.

 

[TheTheoryOfMilitaryLogistics]

I feel very very angry and sad.But i must remind everybody here that US force is Japs' good friend.
These soildrers they have left home for a long time.They miss their wives and girl friends
So this is just a regretful and special case，Japan and US will be families forever.

 

[dy1022]

 

[Tiqiu]

“In order to avoid such tragic incidents in the future, it is necessary to either not allow Americans to leave the base or to withdraw US forces from Japan.

I think the Pentagon will soon invent robots or simulators to address the sexual needs of those lovely servicemen and women's.
These exes who got convicted for their past rape crimes in Okinawa should sue the Pentagon for negligence on human rights grounds - the right to mate.

Justin Castellanos, a 24-year-old navy sailor, was arrested over rape of a 40-year-old Japanese woman in March 2016.

Christopher Browning and Skyler Dozierwalker, both 23, were arrested for raping a Japanese women in 2012.

Marcus Gill, Rodrico Harp and Kendrick Ledet, US servicemen /US Navy Seaman, rented a van and kidnapped a 12-year-old Japanese girl and raped her in 2012.They beat her, duct-taped her eyes and mouth shut, and bound her hands.

In a Time magazine article from 1949 it was recorded that between March and September 1949, U.S. service members had committed 29 murders, 18 rapes, 16 robberies and 33 assaults against the island’s 600,000 residents.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...a-fuelling-tensions-island.html#ixzz49MvapP3T

 

[jhungary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-32157208

Chinese woman in court over Australia double murder

A Chinese woman accused of stabbing a four-year-old boy and his grandmother to death with garden shears has appeared in court in Melbourne.

Police say Cai Xia Liao had an affair with the boy's grandfather, Brian Mach.

They say she tied up Mr Mach and killed his grandson, Alistair, who he was looking after. She then waited for his wife, Mai, to return and killed her.

She has been charged with two counts of murder, intentionally causing injury and false imprisonment.

Mr Mach was taken to hospital with minor injuries.


A court hearing late on Wednesday was told that Mr Mach, 61, had recently ended a three-year relationship with Ms Cai, 45.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Tony Harwood said Ms Liao, a Chinese national, arrived at the house early on Tuesday morning.

She "assaulted and subdued" Mr Mach and then attacked his grandson, who was in bed, he told the out-of-sessions hearing.

When Mai Mach returned home from work several hours later, she "was chased into the backyard by the accused".

She was "attacked with the same pair of garden shears, also suffering extreme neck and head injuries", he said, receiving more than 23 stab and slash injuries.

The police were called to the house by a neighbour.

Ms Liao sobbed throughout her remand hearing on Thursday, Australian media reported.

So I guess having Chinese in Australia is also a problem then.

 

[rott]

Karma is such a bitch.

 

[TaiShang]

I think the Pentagon will soon invent robots or simulators to address the sexual needs of those lovely servicemen and women's.
These exes who got convicted for their past rape crimes in Okinawa should sue the Pentagon for negligence on human rights grounds - the right to mate.

Justin Castellanos, a 24-year-old navy sailor, was arrested over rape of a 40-year-old Japanese woman in March 2016.

Christopher Browning and Skyler Dozierwalker, both 23, were arrested for raping a Japanese women in 2012.

Marcus Gill, Rodrico Harp and Kendrick Ledet, US servicemen /US Navy Seaman, rented a van and kidnapped a 12-year-old Japanese girl and raped her in 2012.They beat her, duct-taped her eyes and mouth shut, and bound her hands.

In a Time magazine article from 1949 it was recorded that between March and September 1949, U.S. service members had committed 29 murders, 18 rapes, 16 robberies and 33 assaults against the island’s 600,000 residents.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...a-fuelling-tensions-island.html#ixzz49MvapP3T

This is what happens when you give up on your sovereignty. Japan, sadly, is a colony of the US in military terms and the US military is not known for its integrity in war zones as well as peace zones.

The anticipated, logical response would be to put an entire no-outside the base ban on all US military forces across Japan and start negotiating how to kick them out eventually.

But, this is Japan, whose constitution has been written by a colonial administration run by the US.

This is a telling lesson for those who desire US military presence. You have to bargain a sense of security paid by your national integrity. Rape by a foreign military force is never an individual act even though it is committed by individuals; it has symbolism of domination in diplomacy.

How low Japan's fierce sovereignty has fallen! And how instructive of these rape and murder incidents for the rest of the region!

 

[Tiqiu]

https://www.rt.com/op-edge/343876-us-base-woman-okinawa/

Empty promises: Japanese rapes by US military ‘just keep happening’
Published time: 21 May, 2016 11:44

The only case that we’ve ever heard about was when somebody was able to win a court case, basically within the last 15 years was only my case. So what happens to the rest of the victims, asked Catherine Jane Fisher, rape survivor and women's rights activist.
Japanese protesters rallied on Friday after an American military worker confessed to killing a young Japanese woman. The former US marine is under arrest over the murder on Okinawa Island. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also expressed his outrage about the incident.

RT: A large amount of people took to the streets to protest in Okinawa lately. How can you describe people’s feelings?

Catherine Jane Fisher: At the moment everybody is really outraged about what has happened. This young woman should never have died. It’s stunningly clear that these rapes and murders have been happening for over 70 years. The death of this woman is a responsibility of the Japanese government.

RT: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he is outraged at the murder of a 20-year-old Kenneth Shinzato. What do you make of that? Do you think that some measures are going to be implemented any time soon?

CJF: I think that the same rhetoric has been happening for the last 70 years, when the Japanese prime minister would come out, and the US military or government official would come out, and they will say the same thing over and over again: “We are angry about what has happened and this will never happen again!” But it has happened again. Now Ms. Kenneth Shinzato is dead, and that is just the same thing that keeps on happening every time.


Japanese PM 'outraged' over 20yo woman’s murder after US Okinawa base contractor arrested

The sad thing about it is that every time that there is an article in the media about how another woman was raped, then we never hear about the case ever again. What happened to all of these victims? The only case that we’ve ever heard about was when somebody was able to win a court case, basically within the last 15 years was only my case. So what happens to the rest of the victims?

RT: In your opinion, what should be done here for those situations not to occur again? How should the government act?

CJF: … I do believe that communication really needs to start happening. They need to stop trying to cover up the cases and we have to just start from the beginning. We really need to start educating people, starting from the police to the medical practitioners, to the judges, to government officials. Because they have basically said in conversations with me that they do not know how to handle military rape cases. Each time that it happens US military and the Japanese government ensure that it never happens, but it just keeps on happening.

I have the scroll. This is a data from, I guess, 1945, and there are young babies who have been raped; women who had babies on their back, women that were digging for potatoes; men that were rape victims…

Someone needs to start walking the talk. We need to have 24-hour government-funded rape crisis centers. And I have been advocating for that for the last 14 years. Each time the Japanese government says they are going to do something, and they haven’t. I have also taken that into my own hands. And if the Japanese government is not going to set up these centers throughout Japan, then I have decided that I would make it myself. I have proposed to have it established in January of 2017, where victims of crime will be able to come to the center, and that they will know that they will be able to receive justice, receive medical help, be able to be put in touch with the legal team that would be able to help them.

This actually was the responsibility of the Japanese government to do this, and they have failed us all. Injustice to one of us is injustice to all of us. People who are not outraged about this, they are just not paying attention. The light has not been shone on Okinawa, but the more rapes that are brought to light then the less likely that these rape crimes are going to happen. Unfortunately, in the last 70 years the victims are just too afraid to speak out.

 

[xunzi]

If raping and destroying a 12 years old girl life is not going to stop them, then nothing will. They have to live with the consequence of hosting a devil.

 

[dy1022]

very very sad!