Rape-Widening Reactions

    
    A people 's protest rally to condemn three US 
servicemen accused of raping a 12-year-old girl on 
September 4 was held at Futenma Elementary School on the 
evening of the 26th.
    It was organized by the Okinawa Peace Movement Center 
which claimed both a 3000 attendance  and one of the 
biggest rallies opposing the US military since 1972.
    From September 22 there were five successive days of 
protests held  by women's groups, labor unions and other 
bodies.
    At the September 26 rally, the demonstrators adopted a 
protest resolution demanding the repeal of the US-Japan 
Security Treaty and the  removal of all the US military 
bases on Okinawa. Furthermore, they criticized the 
reluctance of the Japanese government to reconsider the 
treaty.
    Peace Movement Chairman Zensyun Arakaki delivered a 
protest speech representing the organizer. "This case was 
caused by the bestiality of three servicemen who have 
trampled human dignity. To eradicate this kind of savage 
incident, there is only one  means - the combined removal 
of US bases and the repeal of the US-Japan Security Treaty,
" he said.
    The chairmen of the Okinawa Teachers' Union, the 
Northern District Labor Unions, and the prefectural 
assembly, and the vice-chairmen of the prefectural branch 
of the Japan Social Democratic Party, and of the Socialist 
Masses Party among others all made protest speeches.
    After the rally, the demonstrators paraded to the 
headquarters of the US Marine  Corps at Ishinda in 
Kitanakagusuku to hand over a note of protest.
                     (Sep. 27 am ed)