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To the officials in charge of handling electronic mails to Mr. President:
This is an e-mail to The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton, The President
of the United States. I strongly request that this be read by the President
himself without any alteration preferably before his departure to Japan to
participate in the APEC Conference in Osaka.
So, would you please kindly let me know by e-mail when you hand this over
to President Clinton himself ? If, for some reason, you decide not to hand
it over before his departure, please notify me as to the reason and the
name of the authorized person responsible for the decision.
In either case, I would appreciate very much to have your response before
0000GMT, Nov.18.
Thank you.
Koji Sunagawa,
representing A Citizens' Group Yearning for A Peaceful Okinawa
< Internet: koj@mb.inforyukyu.or.jp >
The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
The President of the United States
The White House
Washington D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I am Koji Sunagawa (Mr.), a 27-year-old computer engineer living and
working in Okinawa, Japan. I am writing this e-mail to make several
requests of you, representing citizens yearning for a peaceful Okinawa. We
are confident that these are reflecting the desire of the majority of the
people of Okinawa and also of mainland Japan.
As you have already been made aware, a 12-year-old schoolgirl on her
way back from buying a notebook was abducted and sexually assaulted by
three U.S. servicemen in the north of Okinawa Island, on the evening of
September 4, 1995. With indignation I must add the fact that an
investigation by the Okinawan police and U.S. military authorities has
revealed that this crime was committed after making an elaborate plan, by
preparing a rental car and several necessary items for the atrocity.
We absolutely cannot condone such an inhuman and brutal act which greatly
shocks and causes renewed anxiety in local residents who are forced to live
in close proximity to U.S. military bases on Okinawa.
A number of incidents that repudiate the U.S. military's enforcement of
official discipline have occurred to date; and at each occurrence, we have
lodged a protest. In spite of our efforts, however, U.S. military personnel
have committed another act which violates the dignity of an individual. We
are deeply affronted and protest vehemently. (Cf. Annex B)
That such an incident has taken place once again, despite our earnest
request for enforcement of official discipline, reveals that disciplinary
measures taken by the U.S. military are inadequate; and we are very
suspicious of effects on this matter by the U.S. Commandant in Okinawa.
As is shown in Annex B, in 1992 a serviceman who was accused of raping a
young Okinawan lady and was expected to be in custody within U.S. military
base had actually escaped back home to the U.S.
To prevent such incidents from occurring ever again, we strongly demand
the following three items of you, with 3,230 signatures that we collected
through the Internet (Annex A):
(1) An official apology to the victim, her family, the people of Okinawa
and of Japan by yourself in person and sufficient and official compensation
to the victim;
(2) Enforcement of official discipline of U.S. military personnel to
prevent such an incident from occurring ever again;
(3) Revision of the U.S.-Japan Status of Force Agreement in regard to the
custody of accused members.
I truly trust your sincerity and friendship toward us, the people of
Okinawa.
Please show us your response not in words, but in some action.
Sincerely,
Koji Sunagawa,
representing A Citizens' Group Yearning for A Peaceful Okinawa
< Internet: koj@mb.inforyukyu.or.jp >
Annex:
(A) The signatures by 3230 people collected through the Internet
Please refer to the whole list at
< http://www/inforyukyu.or.jp/~koj/rape/signature.html >
(B) The list of main crimes and accidents committed by U.S. servicemen
-Excerpts
is found at
< http://www/inforyukyu.or.jp/~koj/rape/crimelist-e.html >
(C) Speech given by an 18-year-old high school student at 85,000 people's
rally in Okinawa on October 21, 1995
is found at
< http://www/inforyukyu.or.jp/~koj/rape/sugako-e.html >
This mail is also transmitted to the following persons:
(A) United States Side
1. Mr. Warren M. Christopher, Secretary of State
2. Mr. William Perry, Secretary of Defense
3. Mr. Stanley O. Roth, Special Assistant to the President and Senior
Director for Asian Affairs
4. General Charles C. Krulak, Commandant of the Marine Corps
5. Mr. Robert Dole, Majority Leader of the Senate
6. Mr. Strom Thurmond, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee
7. Mr. Jesse Helms, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
8. Mr. Ted Stevens, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense
Senate Appropriations Committee
9. Mr. Walter F. Mondale, United States Ambassador to Japan
(B) Japan Side
1. Mr. Tomiichi Murayama, Prime Minister
2. Mr. Yohei Kono, Minister of Foreign affairs
3. Mr. Seishiro Etoh, Minister of the Self Defense Force
4. Prof. Masahide Ohta, Governor of Okinawa Prefecture