VFP’s members announce statement: “We feel shame and deep regret,” on US military violence against women in Okinawa

VFP's members announce statement:

Ann Wright (from left), Douglas Lummis and Daniel Broudy, members of Veterans For Peace, announced a statement on the May, 2016 crime committed against an Okinawan Woman allegedly by a former U.S. Marine, at Okinawa Prefectural Government building, on June 9.


June 9, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Veterans For Peace (VFP)’s members, including Douglas Lummis, Daniel Broudy and Ann Wright released a statement regarding the May, 2016 crime committed against an Okinawan Woman allegedly by a former U.S. Marine in Uruma City, at a press conference held at the Okinawa Prefectural Government office on June 9.
The statement said: “Among the membership of Veterans for Peace, Ryukyu/Okinawa (VFP ROC) are U.S. military veterans who, like the suspect in this case, live in Okinawa. We feel ashamed that a person who is in some sense ‘one of us’ could have committed a crime of this nature. We extend our condolences to the victim’s parents, her relatives, her friends…”

According to Lummis who is a former U.S. Marine and political scholar, U.S. officials say they will make every effort to prevent a recurrence of these incidents, but in actual fact, nothing will change without the preventive measure of taking the troops out of Okinawa, and such crimes will occur repeatedly.

He suggested that soldiers experience a dilemma between training and discipline because the troops need to be trained to be both good neighbors and effective killers. Wright, a retired U.S. Army colonel and member of VFP Hawaii Chapter, stressed there is no way to eradicate violence involving U.S. soldiers other than removing the U.S. bases from Okinawa.

The members called for participation in a mass rally, which will be held on June 19.

(English translation by T&CT)

Go to Japanese


　


Previous Article:
Next Article:

[Similar Articles]