Statement

Concerning the Review of the Status of Forces Agreement Pursuant to the 
U.S.-Japan Security Treaty

	On September 4, 1995, three U.S. servicemen stationed in Okinawa,
two of whom are Marines, allegedly forced an elementary school girl into
a car and raped her.  Despite this being an obvious crime that was committed
outside of any U.S. military installation, the United States Forces, Japan
(USF-J), which took the suspects into custody, refused to allow the Japanese
authorities to carry out the arrest warrant, and have indicated that they
will turn the suspects over after charges are filed.  According to the
September 20, 1994 Asahi Shimbun, even after the 1972 return of Okinawa to
Japanese jurisdiction, there has been an unending string of crimes by U.S.
servicemen against local citizens.  Homicides alone already account for 12
incidents, while there are over 500 other incidents including serious crimes
such as arson, robbery, and rape.

	This stance of not turning over offenders is based on Article 7
Paragraph 3 Item 5(C) of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) under the
U.S.-Japan Security Treaty (i.e., **Agreement on Facilities and Zones, and
on the Status of United States Forces in Japan,** which is based on Article
VI of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between Japan and the
United States of America; Treaty No. 7 of 1960).  In response, vociferous
protests have spread throughout Japan, demanding the immediate turnover of
the suspects, severe punishment for U.S. servicemen who commit crimes, and
the prevention of their repetition, as well as a review of the SOFA.  But
here the Japanese government attempted to deal with the incident through
the implementation of the SOFA, and at the same time use this as a good
opportunity to work with the U.S. government in expanding the U.S.-Japan
military alliance into a global institution while calling this undertaking
a "redefinition" of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.

	We support the protest actions of the Okinawan people, and proclaim
our solidarity with those protests.  Additionally, we want U.S. military
personnel suspected of crimes against local citizens to be turned over to
the Japanese authorities immediately.  Furthermore, we demand the deletion
from the SOFA of Article 7 Paragraph 3 Item 5(C), which concerns the
turnover of suspects.  As a fundamental consideration we stand firmly
opposed to any and all attempts to expand or strengthen the U.S.-Japan
Security Treaty, and we call upon the concerned parties to seriously
consider abolishing U.S. military bases.

	This resolution was adopted at the ninth Japan Lawyers 
International Solidarity Association Board of Directors meeting.

September 25, 1995

Japan Lawyers International Solidarity Association