Hatoyama, Hirano urge U.S. to cooperate on Okinawa hit-and-run

Thursday 19th November, 06:20 PM JST

TOKYO —

Japan will urge the United States more strongly to cooperate in its ongoing investigation into a fatal hit-and-run accident in Okinawa Prefecture allegedly involving a U.S. Army member who has refused to turn up for questioning, Japan’s top government spokesman said Thursday.

The U.S. serviceman did not appear at the Okinawa prefectural police at any day from Saturday through Wednesday despite a police request for him to do so and the police now regard him as a suspect in the case, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano.

‘‘To break this deadlock, we will urge the United States and people concerned more strongly to offer cooperation’’ to clarify what lies behind this incident, Hirano told a regular press conference.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama also commented on the case in the evening, telling reporters, ‘‘The longer it continues, the more frustrated people in Okinawa will become. I hope they (the U.S. military) will cooperate toward an early resolution.’‘

Incidents involving the U.S. military stationed in Japan can become sensitive issues for people in Okinawa, who host the bulk of U.S. forces in the country and often voice complaints about noise pollution and accidents involving the military.

On Nov 7, Masakazu Hokama, a 66-year-old resident in the village of Yomitan, was found dead, bleeding from the head near a road in the village. He was later found to have a broken neck.

The police seized a car believed to have been involved in the case and the blood type of stains found in the vehicle matched that of the victim.

Hirano said that the government will follow the investigations carefully and take further action if the situation continues to be stalled, but denied that Japan would immediately ask the U.S. military to hand over the serviceman to Japanese authorities before indictment.

Under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which governs the operations of the U.S. military in Japan, U.S. service personnel can be handed over to Japan before a formal indictment only in cases of murder, rape and other heinous crimes. But in other cases, the United States keeps the suspect in custody.

According to Hirano, the U.S. serviceman submitted to questioning for three days through last Friday, but refused after the following day.

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Latest 15 of 22 Total Comments Show All

sillygirl at 10:14 PM JST - 19th November

why dont follow the agreement? first they have to indict him. then the US hands him over. thats the agreement from what i understand. apparently they dont have enough evidence. i wouldnt go either - until it was mandatory. (not that i am sticking up for the guy but hey rules are rules)
mindovermatter at 10:32 PM JST - 19th November

the_sicilian

The US will hand this guy over ONLY after the Japanese build a solid case. Circumstantial evidence does not cut it. Before the JT mob convicts this guy, lets be sure he did it before screaming.

Spot-on!

Stick to the SOFA... He's not going anywhere... BTW: He's more than willing to be interrogated anytime, the J-Cops, just need to let the interrogation be Video-Taped...

What's the big Deal...? Unless the J-Cops are afraid they would be able to force a confession out of him if he being taped...?

What you J-Ganko anti-americans need to remember, he's only in Japan because of agreements YOUR Gov't signed, they agreed to the rules... He didn't write them... He's not some english teacher, he's here as a representative of the U.S. Gov't

And if he, in-fact did hit that guy, he's going to do REAL jail time... That's not even a question...

You guys are just pissed because he's getting special treatment in accordance with the SOFA...

Just listen to your logic... You guys sound like a bunch of spoiled rotten kids whining because the kid next door got a new toy, and you didn't get one...
mindovermatter at 10:45 PM JST - 19th November

lincolnman

If he did that, chances are good he could get a suspended sentence.

Another great post!

And lincolnman, I agree with everything you said, with the exception of the, "Probable Suspended Sentence," if he fessed up...

In Okinawa today, he might as well be a black man in Alabama in the 1950's, because there's no way, not a chance in hell, he would ever get a suspended sentence. If they do finally produce that indictment, no matter how much evidence, or lack thereof, He's going to jail for a long time, not even a question... Japan's legal system is as close as you can get to having 12 year old kids sit on the bench...

Otherwise great post!
bigdaddy23 at 10:54 PM JST - 19th November

The main point is if Japan feels they have their man, indict him. Simple as that. When have you heard the US not cooperating with Japanese? Once they indict their suspect they turn him over.
fondofj at 11:12 PM JST - 19th November

It's proved that the car belonging to the service man was involved in this accident. Now the police have to find out who the driver was. And definitely the serviceman or somebody closely related to him drove the car. Is it very difficult to find out who was driving the car that day? I don't think so. The police is just very "hajukashi" to touch this service man. If he was an ordinary guy that would be a different story.
gogogo at 11:16 PM JST - 19th November

Come on Japan you going to make an international case about this, don't be surprised when you get no help due to the fact Japan doesn't budge when asked to do something, or asked to stop something or asked to sign an agreement coming from the international community.
gokuh73 at 11:32 PM JST - 19th November

japaneseno1 GET A CLUE. your own police can't even keep themselves in line (see crime section of this site). Do you expect him to allow the police to "interogate" him when the SOFA protects him. He was cooperating until they twisted his comments in the "interviews" and he demanded they record the interviews to make sure the TRUTH comes out (interesting idea, truth). Did you ever wonder why the Japanese legal system has such a high prosecution rate? No protections for the accused!!!

fondofj - the car did not belong to the accused soldier. The owner of the car was not in Japan at the time of the accident and I believe he is still out of the country.

The Japanese politicians are using this as they always do...a way to stir up the people and make themselves look strong to their people...standing up to the BIG BAD AMERICAN meanies... If they really want to live up to their DJP manifesto and "reduce the burden" on Okinawa, they should just go ahead with the current agreement. That would close several large Marine bases, including Futenma, consolidate other bases and move half of the Marines OUT OF JAPAN. If that isn't reducing the burden, I don't know what is. It is very funny when someone looks at the people who actually demonstrate around the bases...most of the people protesting are not even from Okinawa, they fly in for the protest (and maybe a little sun and sand) and fly home or hang out in Henoko. If the actual Okinawans who will be impacted by the closing of bases (Base workers, housing agencies and stores/resturants around the bases) would speak up, the REAL opinion of the Okinawa people would be heard.
gokuh73 at 11:43 PM JST - 19th November

****BTW...The US Military IS cooperating, but he has not been charged with a crime, the Military can not FORCE him to answer the Japanese questions. Once they charge him, everything changes and the Japanese police can interview him as he enjoys their hospitality in a Japanese prison.

In my opinion, I think he did do it. But then again, I don't have the evidence, the Japanese Police do (supposedly). If he did do it, he would be best served to admit it, show remorse and beg forgiveness for his crimes. That is the Japanese way and usually results in a much reduced sentence. The harder he fights this, the harder the courts will sentence him if (when) he is convicted.
JHansen at 12:32 AM JST - 20th November

How very petty! I have supported Hatoyama and feel that the US military presence on Okinawa should be lessened. Yet hearing the leader of the nation dip down to get involved in local criminal issue is just a sign that perhaps Hatoyama is trolling for votes from the anti-US crowd. I feel he has cheapened the office of Prime Minster in doing this. How very sad.
Fadamor at 03:33 AM JST - 20th November

I'm just interested in how the Japanese police have apparently resisted having the interrogations taped by the interrogee. He says he'll resume their little "meetings" as long as it gets taped, but the Japanese have nixed that? What are they afraid of?
Triple888 at 07:09 AM JST - 20th November

It's incidents like these that make the US army welcomed.
Molenir at 08:37 AM JST - 20th November

So he turns up for 3 days of questioning, and he's not cooperating? Insisting any and all interrogations are taped is not cooperating? I guess unless he voluntarily confesses to whatever crime the J-cops are looking at, he isn't cooperating. If it was me, I wouldn't turn up either. Particularly after 3 days worth of interrogation. Indict him, and the US turns him over. Until that time, he has complete freedom to not talk to the police.
cagedislander at 12:28 PM JST - 20th November

"...most of the people protesting are not even from Okinawa..."

gokuh73, this is a fact that people outside the island don't want to accept. Everyone watches the news and believes whole heartedly what the media tells them. It is true that a large percentage of the protestors (Hands Around Kadena is more than half not from Okinawa) are from mainland! Mainlanders often buy a square hectacre of land on base just so they have a right to protest use of it. Just search Google.co.jp for people looking to buy land on Okinawa bases for examples.

The SOFA is written how it is written to protect rights of accused. The matter needs to be worked as it was agreed to between the nations to ensure justice is intact for the accused and victim. Everything else played out in media or from politicians mouths has an alternative agenda.
cliffworks at 01:14 PM JST - 20th November

Regardless of whether the driver hit and killed the unfortunate fellow, I agree he should not be alone with J police under any conditions. I speak from experience: While walking home in Meguro I was hit from behind by a car, driver jumped out savagely assaulted me, repeatedly kicked in the head & fled in his car. Passersby J couple witnessed the assault, reported to Meguro police who then lost destroyed most of the evidence, refused to submit medical report to prosecutor who didn’t lift one finger to investigate. Perp was found guilty, fined 300,000JPY and walked away a free man. I received not one cent, am still paying for medical permanent injuries and fighting a civil case in mockery of justice court setting. No justice to be had here.
PoolofZen at 01:44 PM JST - 20th November

This doesn't sound like anything at all. It sounds like Both Japan and the U.S. are following protocol. So what if Hatoyama says he hopes the US hands him over.... He was just responding the a question.... Probably one that sounded like.. "Do you think the US should cooperate with the investigation?"...

This is yet another attempt of the media to drum up hype and anxiety over something that is a non issue.

If the Japanese Police have the vehicle, then they have plenty of DNA along with a multitude of forensic evidence to indict the soldier. I'm sure it will be forthcoming.

Then the media will forget all about the alleged "uncooperation" of the US and focus on the 'evil' US military and 'ALL' of its members.

Isn't there a nice bikini photo we could be looking at instead?