American soldier in Japan rapes Filipina

A Filipina migrant worker was raped by an American soldier in Okinawa, Japan on February 18. The victim has filed charges against the rapist and is now under the protection of the Okinawa police.

The incident has fueled outrage anew among Filipinos. Successive protests were launched by various women's groups led by Gabriela, at the US embassy to condemn the rape and push for an end to US military presence in the Philippines and other Asian countries. The militant women's group likewise condemned the Arroyo regime's inaction over the issue. If this case is not closely monitored, said Gabriela, the puppet regime will surely cover up the crime just as it did on the rape case of a Filipina in Subic in 2006.

In a related development, 52 women representatives passed a resolution supporting the victim in filing charges against the American soldier. They also called on the Arroyo government to provide legal and financial assistance to the victim throughout the duration of the case and urged the Arroyo government to file a diplomatic protest against the United States.

The Japanese people likewise abhor the US military ases and the huge American military presence in their country. The rape of the Filipina in Okinawa occurred just a few days after an earlier rape of a 14year old Japanese student by another American soldier. Outraged, the local government of Okinawa imposed a curfew and restricted American troop movement in the area. Irate Okinawans also set up a surveillance camera at the gates of the base to monitor the soldiers' movements. They have long been demanding the immediate pullout of all American troops due to repeated cases of human rights violations and the trampling of the Japanese people's sovereignty.