Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO1822
2009-08-10 07:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MOFA CAUTIONS ON U.S. MILITARY INCIDENTS/ACCIDENTS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001822
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2019
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL JA
SUBJECT: MOFA CAUTIONS ON U.S. MILITARY INCIDENTS/ACCIDENTS
Classified By: CDA JAMES P. ZUMWALT, REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001822
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2019
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL JA
SUBJECT: MOFA CAUTIONS ON U.S. MILITARY INCIDENTS/ACCIDENTS
Classified By: CDA JAMES P. ZUMWALT, REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)
1. (C) The U.S. military should tighten discipline in
response to recent crimes and accidents involving locally
based U.S. servicemen, particularly in view of Japan's
approaching elections, MOFA Director General for North
America Kazuyoshi Umemoto told the Charge d'Affaires in an
August 10 lunch. Umemoto acknowledged that incidents in
recent weeks appeared minor in isolation and did not reflect
an upward trend. Cumulatively, however, the incidents could
suggest the emergence of a lax attitude among U.S. forces, he
cautioned. (Umemoto provided a paper detailing an unarmed
robbery and traffic accident in Yokosuka, as well as an armed
robbery in Okinawa. He also shared graphs that showed an
up-tick in incidents and accidents since July.) Umemoto
stressed the potential historic significance of the August 30
elections and cautioned that crimes and accidents by U.S.
servicemen could easily be politicized during the election
campaign. He asked that the Embassy convey to U.S. Forces,
Japan (USFJ) the need for vigilance at a time when "the level
of critical mass for criticism of the U.S. military was
lower." MOFA Deputy Director General for North AMERICA Koji
Tomita added that such incidents ran counter to efforts to
ensure a good start for Ambassador Roos.
2. (C) Charge d'Affaires Zumwalt responded that the Embassy
would pass MOFA's message to USFJ and Washington. He
underscored that U.S. base commanders throughout Japan were
taking strong, innovative measures to reduce the number of
incidents and accidents in their locales. He recounted, for
example, successful efforts to address drunk-driving by the
U.S. Air Force's Misawa Air Base. The Charge also concurred
on the importance of a good start for Ambassador Roos, which,
he said, would enable both governments to focus positively on
major bilateral issues, particularly the Alliance.
3. (C) Comment: In fact, statistics released by the Okinawa
police in late July show an overall decline in incidents and
accidents in that prefecture over the first half of 2009,
compared with the same period in 2008. MOFA officials,
moreover, had also told Post the week of August 1 that
incidents and accidents country-wide were low in June and
average for July. Post assumes that Umemoto was under
instruction from political levels, where there is concern
that even minor crimes by U.S. servicemen could work to the
advantage of opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
candidates in the upcoming election.
ZUMWALT
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2019
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL JA
SUBJECT: MOFA CAUTIONS ON U.S. MILITARY INCIDENTS/ACCIDENTS
Classified By: CDA JAMES P. ZUMWALT, REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)
1. (C) The U.S. military should tighten discipline in
response to recent crimes and accidents involving locally
based U.S. servicemen, particularly in view of Japan's
approaching elections, MOFA Director General for North
America Kazuyoshi Umemoto told the Charge d'Affaires in an
August 10 lunch. Umemoto acknowledged that incidents in
recent weeks appeared minor in isolation and did not reflect
an upward trend. Cumulatively, however, the incidents could
suggest the emergence of a lax attitude among U.S. forces, he
cautioned. (Umemoto provided a paper detailing an unarmed
robbery and traffic accident in Yokosuka, as well as an armed
robbery in Okinawa. He also shared graphs that showed an
up-tick in incidents and accidents since July.) Umemoto
stressed the potential historic significance of the August 30
elections and cautioned that crimes and accidents by U.S.
servicemen could easily be politicized during the election
campaign. He asked that the Embassy convey to U.S. Forces,
Japan (USFJ) the need for vigilance at a time when "the level
of critical mass for criticism of the U.S. military was
lower." MOFA Deputy Director General for North AMERICA Koji
Tomita added that such incidents ran counter to efforts to
ensure a good start for Ambassador Roos.
2. (C) Charge d'Affaires Zumwalt responded that the Embassy
would pass MOFA's message to USFJ and Washington. He
underscored that U.S. base commanders throughout Japan were
taking strong, innovative measures to reduce the number of
incidents and accidents in their locales. He recounted, for
example, successful efforts to address drunk-driving by the
U.S. Air Force's Misawa Air Base. The Charge also concurred
on the importance of a good start for Ambassador Roos, which,
he said, would enable both governments to focus positively on
major bilateral issues, particularly the Alliance.
3. (C) Comment: In fact, statistics released by the Okinawa
police in late July show an overall decline in incidents and
accidents in that prefecture over the first half of 2009,
compared with the same period in 2008. MOFA officials,
moreover, had also told Post the week of August 1 that
incidents and accidents country-wide were low in June and
average for July. Post assumes that Umemoto was under
instruction from political levels, where there is concern
that even minor crimes by U.S. servicemen could work to the
advantage of opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
candidates in the upcoming election.
ZUMWALT