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| Two US sailors accused of Okinawa rape | Two US sailors accused of Okinawa rape |
| (25 days later) | |
| Two American sailors have been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman in Okinawa, raising the possibility of further protests against the US military presence on the southern Japanese island. | Two American sailors have been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman in Okinawa, raising the possibility of further protests against the US military presence on the southern Japanese island. |
| The suspects, named as Christopher Browning and Skyler Dozierwalker, both 23, were arrested after allegedly raping the woman as she walked home in the early hours of Tuesday. | The suspects, named as Christopher Browning and Skyler Dozierwalker, both 23, were arrested after allegedly raping the woman as she walked home in the early hours of Tuesday. |
| The alleged victim, who is in her 20s, later identified the sailors at an off-base housing complex, local media said. The two men, who are in Japanese police custody, had reportedly been drinking before the alleged incident. | The alleged victim, who is in her 20s, later identified the sailors at an off-base housing complex, local media said. The two men, who are in Japanese police custody, had reportedly been drinking before the alleged incident. |
| The case has come at a particularly sensitive time for relations between the US military and residents in Okinawa, which hosts more than half of the approximately 47,000 US military personnel in Japan. | The case has come at a particularly sensitive time for relations between the US military and residents in Okinawa, which hosts more than half of the approximately 47,000 US military personnel in Japan. |
| Lingering resentment at the large US military footprint on the island turned to anger recently following the controversial deployment earlier this month of 12 Osprey aircraft at Futenma, a marine corps base located in the middle of a densely populated city. | Lingering resentment at the large US military footprint on the island turned to anger recently following the controversial deployment earlier this month of 12 Osprey aircraft at Futenma, a marine corps base located in the middle of a densely populated city. |
| "This [the rape case] is the worst possible timing," Kyodo quoted an aide to the prime minister, Yoshihiko Noda, as saying, adding that Tokyo had lodged a strong protest with the US authorities. | "This [the rape case] is the worst possible timing," Kyodo quoted an aide to the prime minister, Yoshihiko Noda, as saying, adding that Tokyo had lodged a strong protest with the US authorities. |
| The US ambassador to Japan, John Roos, said in a statement: "The United States government is extremely concerned by recent allegations of misconduct by two individual United States service members. | The US ambassador to Japan, John Roos, said in a statement: "The United States government is extremely concerned by recent allegations of misconduct by two individual United States service members. |
| "We are committed to co-operating fully with the Japanese authorities in their investigation. These allegations, given their seriousness, will continue to command my full personal attention." | "We are committed to co-operating fully with the Japanese authorities in their investigation. These allegations, given their seriousness, will continue to command my full personal attention." |
| A Pentagon spokesman said: "The defence department takes all allegations involving misconduct by service members seriously wherever they may occur. | A Pentagon spokesman said: "The defence department takes all allegations involving misconduct by service members seriously wherever they may occur. |
| "The US navy in Japan is focused on co-operating and supporting the Okinawa police investigation." | "The US navy in Japan is focused on co-operating and supporting the Okinawa police investigation." |
| A spokesman for Okinawa prefecture said the alleged crime was "unforgivable" and had "shocked all Okinawans". | A spokesman for Okinawa prefecture said the alleged crime was "unforgivable" and had "shocked all Okinawans". |
| Recent protests against the US military have centred on the Osprey deployment. Residents claim accidents involving the MV-22 Osprey, including two last year, prove the aircraft is too dangerous to fly in built-up areas. | Recent protests against the US military have centred on the Osprey deployment. Residents claim accidents involving the MV-22 Osprey, including two last year, prove the aircraft is too dangerous to fly in built-up areas. |
| The Japanese government, however, approved their deployment this summer after Washington attributed the accidents to pilot error rather than mechanical or design faults. The marines plan to deploy 24 Ospreys at Futenma by 2014. | The Japanese government, however, approved their deployment this summer after Washington attributed the accidents to pilot error rather than mechanical or design faults. The marines plan to deploy 24 Ospreys at Futenma by 2014. |
| The Osprey's tilt-rotors enable it to take off and land like a helicopter and cruise like conventional aircraft. The US says the fleet at Futenma is needed to replace existing CH-46 transport helicopters and improve its ability to respond to security crises in the Asia-Pacific region amid growing concern over China's military buildup. | The Osprey's tilt-rotors enable it to take off and land like a helicopter and cruise like conventional aircraft. The US says the fleet at Futenma is needed to replace existing CH-46 transport helicopters and improve its ability to respond to security crises in the Asia-Pacific region amid growing concern over China's military buildup. |
| Crimes by military personnel are a longstanding cause of tension in Okinawa, which hosts the majority of US bases in Japan. The 1995 abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US servicemen brought 85,000 people on to the streets in protest and forced Tokyo and Washington to discuss way to reduce the US military presence on the island. | Crimes by military personnel are a longstanding cause of tension in Okinawa, which hosts the majority of US bases in Japan. The 1995 abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US servicemen brought 85,000 people on to the streets in protest and forced Tokyo and Washington to discuss way to reduce the US military presence on the island. |
| Those discussions led to an agreement to relocate the most contentious base, Futenma, but the move has been effectively ditched in the face of opposition from residents near the proposed new site along an unspoiled stretch of Okinawan coastline. | Those discussions led to an agreement to relocate the most contentious base, Futenma, but the move has been effectively ditched in the face of opposition from residents near the proposed new site along an unspoiled stretch of Okinawan coastline. |
| In 2008, the then secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, was forced to apologise during an official visit to Tokyo following the arrest of a US marine for the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl in Okinawa. | In 2008, the then secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, was forced to apologise during an official visit to Tokyo following the arrest of a US marine for the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl in Okinawa. |
| Opposition to US bases surged again in 2010 after the then prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, reneged on an election promise to move Futenma off the island altogether after failing to secure an alternative site. | Opposition to US bases surged again in 2010 after the then prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, reneged on an election promise to move Futenma off the island altogether after failing to secure an alternative site. |
| According to the public broadcaster NHK, seven US servicemen have been arrested on rape charges since Okinawa reverted to Japanese control 40 years ago. | According to the public broadcaster NHK, seven US servicemen have been arrested on rape charges since Okinawa reverted to Japanese control 40 years ago. |
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