Japan protests against alleged cases of sexual harassment of US military personnel

Several Japanese citizens protested near the US Embassy in Tokyo because of the two alleged cases of sexual assault (recorded on the island of Okinawa) involving US soldiers.

The first case concerns a Member of the Air Force (called Brennon RE Washington, 25). A spokesman for the Naha District Court told CNN he was charged with sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl (“non-consensual sexual intercourse” and “indecent abduction”).

The other case concerns a Marine, whose name was not released, was accused of assaulting a 21-year-old woman.

There are about 50,000 US soldiers in Japan.

Due to a bilateral security pact 50,000 US soldiers are stationed in JapanIt is estimated that half of them are in Okinawa (a strategic location in dealing with growing tensions with China).

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that his country takes such events “seriously”, which “extremely regrettable” and this is all the more true as they allegedly took place within a few months.

According to the Secretary, Deputy Foreign Minister Masataka Okanano expressed his regret to the United States and the Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel requested Disciplinary and preventive measures.

Hayashi said: “I believe that the US side also takes this matter seriously (…) Criminal cases and accidents involving US military personnel cause great fear among local residents and should not happen in the first place.”

“I believe that The US side also takes this matter seriously (…) Criminal cases and accidents involving US military personnel cause great fear among local residents and should not happen in the first place.”

On the other hand, Brigadier General Nicholas Evans, The commander of the 18th Squadron at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa said he was “deeply concerned about the seriousness of this allegation and regrets any concern it has caused.”

US officials assured that their The military will fully cooperate with the investigations by local authorities and courts.