Definition of Civilian Component

Urged by political necessity to settle the problem before coming national election, Japan and United States agreed on defining the civilian components of U.S. military force stricter than ever on Tuesday. It was to ease the growing anger in Okinawa, where a young woman was raped and killed by a worker in U.S. military base, by limiting the area of U.S. military members who would be protected by Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. But, Tuesday agreement was too general to guarantee the people in Okinawa elimination of crime of U.S. military members.

Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, a civilian employee in U.S. Kadena Air Base, was arrested for raping local 20 years old woman and stabbed her to death. According Japan-U.S. SOFA, the right to exercise jurisdiction for crimes by U.S. military force members is basically on Japan side. But, there is an exception with provision of “The military authorities of the United States shall have the primary right to exercise jurisdiction over the members of the United States armed forces or the civilian component in relation to offences arising out of any act or omission done in the performance of official duty.”

There are over five thousands of the civilian component in U.S. Force in Japan, about two thousands of which are in Okinawa. But, it has not been clear who was recognized as the civilian component with privilege of escaping Japanese jurisdiction. Both governments agreed on definition of them in four categories: 1) civilians working for U.S. Force in Japan employed with wage from U.S. governmental budget, 2) crews on vessels or aircrafts operated by United States Force, 3) employee of U.S. government staying in Japan with official purpose of U.S. Force, and 4) technical advisor or consultant staying in Japan with official invitation from U.S. Force. Shinzato would not be categorized in any of them. If such an employee as Shinzato makes another crime in Japan, he/she will be indicted and adjudged by Japanese court.

Even how the governments clearly define the civilian component of U.S. Force, people in Okinawa cannot be satisfied, because the action does not guarantee no more crime of American military member. While it is possible that the civilian component will temporary be reduced, it can be increasing again as long as U.S. Military can determine the status of new workers in the bases. Although the agreement excludes persons who have official status to stay in Japan from the civilian component, it must be what should have been determined long before.

It is reported that U.S. Force educated freshmen to realize the protest in Okinawa as emotional and based on double standard. But, SOFA is one of the biggest double standard in relationship between Japan and U.S. It is necessary for U.S. Force to stop looking down the host nation.