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Japan angry at rape, wants suspect handed over
Police questioned a U.S. airman for a sixth day on Wednesday in the suspected rape of a young Japanese woman but there was no sign of U.S. forces being ready to hand him over despite rising anger and pleas from politicians.
Police questioned a U.S. airman for a sixth day on Wednesday in the suspected rape of a young Japanese woman but there was no sign of U.S. forces being ready to hand him over despite rising anger and pleas from politicians.
Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka expressed concern that the Independence Day holiday on Wednesday may further delay a U.S. decision. "In any case, we would like them to come to a decision promptly," Kyodo news agency quoted her as saying.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said that Japan may consider asking the U.S. for an explanation if it takes much longer to reach a decision on the latest incident involving U.S. forces based on the southern island of Okinawa.
"We have not received a report yet on a U.S. decision," Fukuda told a news conference. "We did not expect such a delay." But Fukuda said that the United States had told Japan it was "hard" to make a decision quickly.
Okinawa Governor Keiichi Inamine called a news conference in Tokyo and voiced his concern that the U.S. military had yet to hand over U.S. air force Sergeant Timothy Woodland in the suspected rape of the woman in the town of Chatan last Friday.
"The United States has yet to agree to this, which is extremely regrettable," he told a news conference in Tokyo. "I strongly demand of both the U.S. and Japanese governments that the suspect be handed over swiftly."
The incident follows a string of offences by U.S. forces on Okinawa, reluctant host to the bulk of the U.S. military presence in Japan, and has sparked anger and fear among residents.
Bureau Report
"We have not received a report yet on a U.S. decision," Fukuda told a news conference. "We did not expect such a delay." But Fukuda said that the United States had told Japan it was "hard" to make a decision quickly.
Okinawa Governor Keiichi Inamine called a news conference in Tokyo and voiced his concern that the U.S. military had yet to hand over U.S. air force Sergeant Timothy Woodland in the suspected rape of the woman in the town of Chatan last Friday.
"The United States has yet to agree to this, which is extremely regrettable," he told a news conference in Tokyo. "I strongly demand of both the U.S. and Japanese governments that the suspect be handed over swiftly."
The incident follows a string of offences by U.S. forces on Okinawa, reluctant host to the bulk of the U.S. military presence in Japan, and has sparked anger and fear among residents.
Bureau Report