AMBASSADOR AND FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS ALLEGED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000389 SIPDIS SIPDIS DOD FOR OSD/APSA/SHINN/SEDNEY/HILL/BASALLA; PACOM FOR J00/J01/J5; USFJ FOR J00/J01/J06/J5 E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2018 TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV JA SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS ALLEGED OKINAWA RAPE CASE Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer; Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador, accompanied by the USFJ Commander, met with Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura on February 13 to express regret over the alleged February 10 sexual assault of a Japanese school girl by a Marine in Okinawa. The Ambassador said that the U.S. government and U.S. Forces will cooperate fully in the investigation and will take immediate steps to strengthen training programs relating to sexual assault. The Foreign Minister expressed appreciation for the Ambassador's decision to travel to Okinawa to personally convey U.S. concern over the incident to the Governor and Okinawan people. Koumura welcomed USFJ plans to review training procedures and urged a sustained effort. In order to regain public trust, Koumura said that the most urgent task is to convince the Japanese public that steps are being taken to avoid similar incidents in the future. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by USFJ Commander Lt. Gen. Wright, met with Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura on February 13 to discuss the alleged February 10 sexual assault by a U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant on a Japanese junior high school girl. The Ambassador said that any parent in the United States or Japan would be deeply touched by the suffering the victim and her family must be going through. The Ambassador added that he and Gen. Wright were calling on the Foreign Minister not in an ordinary capacity, but to show how serious the United States government takes the allegations. This is not a military-related issue, he continued, but rather an issue of basic humanity. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador noted that he called together his senior staff and spoke with the USFJ leadership immediately upon his return to Tokyo late on February 12. In order to underline the seriousness of U.S. concerns, the Ambassador said he and Lt. Gen. Wright decided to fly to Okinawa the next morning. After receiving an update on the incident, the Ambassador, Lt. Gen. Wright, USMC III MEF Commander Lt. Gen. Zilmer, and Consul General Maher met the Okinawan Governor to convey the U.S. commitment to seeing that justice is served in the case. The Ambassador added that he asked the Governor to convey a personal letter to the victim's family expressing his concern over their welfare. Enhanced Training -------------- ¶4. (C) Lt. Gen. Wright explained that not only the Marine Corps, but all four service components in Japan have been instructed to review their education programs on sexual assault and harassment in order to improve their effectiveness. While the Department of Defense mandates such programs worldwide, Lt. Gen. Wright said that USFJ is looking especially to strengthen training tailored to Japan's culture and society. Over the next week, working groups composed of TOKYO 00000389 002 OF 002 senior officers and enlisted members will be established at bases around Japan to enhance the effectiveness of these programs. Lt. Gen. Wright said that his overriding direction is that anyone who has the honor to serve in Japan must hold themselves to the highest moral and ethical standards. Foreign Minister: Sustained Effort Required -------------- ¶5. (C) The Foreign Minister expressed his deep appreciation for the Ambassador and USFJ Commander's decision to convey U.S. regrets directly to the people of Okinawa, and to report on U.S. efforts to prevent future incidents. Cases like this tarnish the image of USFJ among the Okinawan and Japanese people, he added. To avoid any lasting negative impact on the U.S.-Japan Alliance, the U.S. side needs to demonstrate that it is taking measures that will minimize the chance that such incidents will occur in the future. While training programs are something for the U.S. to develop internally, Koumura said Japan is prepared to offer any assistance U.S. Forces may require. Koumura added that the commitment demonstrated by the Ambassador and USFJ Commander must be sustained well beyond their tenure, as Japan seeks to maintain U.S. bases for many years to come. ¶6. (C) The Ambassador closed the meeting by offering his personal assistance to resolve any difficulties encountered during the criminal investigation. While the immediate focus will be to ensure that the investigation is completed and justice served, the Ambassador said that the entire U.S. government will do everything it can to convince the Japanese public of its commitment to avoid a repeat of this sort of incident. SCHIEFFER