Japan’s Foreign Ministry recently revealed they did not inform the Defense Ministry about two sexual assault cases involving U.S. military personnel in Okinawa due to the sensitive nature of the incidents. Despite a bilateral agreement in place for such incidents to be reported, the decision was made based on the judgment of local police and prosecutors, citing privacy concerns and delicate matters.
Last week, news surfaced about a U.S. Marine arrested for attempted rape in May and a U.S. Air Force serviceman indicted for kidnapping and sexual assault of a minor in December. Surprisingly, the Okinawa prefectural government was also left unaware of these cases.
While a 1997 agreement requires the Foreign Ministry to notify the Defense Ministry of incidents reported by the U.S., there seems to be a lack of transparency in the process. The Justice Ministry emphasized the importance of public interest and privacy considerations in disclosing such information.
The Defense Ministry’s reluctance to disclose how they obtained information on these incidents raises further questions about accountability and transparency.
It is crucial for investigative authorities to prioritize public interest and privacy concerns when handling sensitive cases like these.
© KYODO