Mr. Tokushin Yamauchi questioned PM Noda over a reply "I have no detailed and correct knowledge of the incident." recently made by Defense Minister Mr. Ichikawa, to a question of how much he knew about the 1995 Okinawa rape incident.
Three U.S. servicemen, U.S. Navy Seaman Marcus Gill and U.S. Marines Rodrico Harp and Kendrick Ledet, all from Camp Hansen on Okinawa, rented a van and kidnapped a 12-year-old Japanese girl. They beat her, duct-taped her eyes and mouth shut, and bound her hands. Gill and Harp then raped her, while Ledet claimed he only pretended to do so out of fear of Gill. The incident has led to the movement of demanding U.S. to return U.S.Futenma base to Japan. The Government of Japan has been discussing relocation of Futenma U.S. base to Henoko, Okinawa with the Government of the United States for years.
His reply has angered many. They now believe that he is not qualified to work as Defense Minister, supposedly promoting relocation work through sincere consultation with the local people in Okinawa.
The opposition parties are now considering submission of censure motion against him on the final day of the current Diet session. However, Mr. Ichikawa seems determined to hold on to his post of Defense Minister, being backed by PM Noda.
Note: Tokushin Yamauchi (山内 徳信, Yamauchi Tokushin, born February 15, 1935) is a Japanese politician of the Social Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Yomitan, Okinawaand 1958 graduate of Ryukyu University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007 after serving as mayor of Yomitan for six terms (24 years). -Wikipedia
The following tweets are provisional translation of what Mr. Tokushin Yamauchi said at the Budget Committee of the Upper House today.
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