Rapes, Kills and Abandons

Newspapers are revealing the details of murder by a worker for United States Force in Okinawa. The suspect, Franklin Shinzato, admitted to the police that he raped the victim and killed her before he abandoned the corpse. It can be regarded as a behavior of beast that does not care about humanity. One thing clear: the people in Okinawa think that the existence of U.S. military bases caused the case. Those bases are castles of devil for them.

According to the reports, Shinzato hit the head of the woman and brought her in his car. He admitted that he did that for obscene purpose, admitting his raping on her. Then he killed her by stabbing her body with a knife, carried her dead body and abandoned in a forest. Security camera captured a scene when Shinzato bought salt in a convenience store and sprinkled it on his car surface. This story is nothing but vomiting.

One of the victim’s relatives stated to the interview of TV crew that she could not believe the story, crying over the lost of young life with hopes for future wedding or carrying baby. One protestor at the gate of U.S. Kadena Air Base, where Shinzato was working, realized that this case went beyond the line of his perseverance. “We need to rethink Japan-U.S. alliance and Status of Force Agreement,” he told.

Protests are spreading. Supporters for Okinawan Governor, Takeshi Onaga, are planning a protesting rally next month. When American military personnel raped a girl in 1995, 85,000 people gathered and accused U.S., paving a way to relocation of Futenma Air Base and discussion over Japan-U.S. SOFA.

But, the movement is not contained within Okinawa this time. Thirty women had a rally in front of Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Tokyo on Friday. “Return back the life,” they chanted toward the Prime Minister’s office. “It is important to raise voices from the mainland with solidarity with Okinawa,” told a woman. The place became an ordinary stage for protest against Japanese government. Okinawa issue stands on it as well as abolishment of nuclear power plant or unconstitutional security legislation.

In the meeting with Vice-governor of Okinawa, Mitsuo Ageda, Commander of U.S. Marine Forces Japan, Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson told that he would take full responsibility for the incident. When a man in Japan refers to “responsibility,” he needs to draw a certain result on the issue. It is doubtful that Nicholson can bring some kind of solution from U.S. government. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe considers asking preventing measures to U.S. President Barack Obama in Group 7 Summit later this month. But, what Japanese citizens demand is “apology” of Obama, which has been the most sensitive word for his visit to Japan that itinerary includes visit to Hiroshima.