The US Marine Corps announced on the 6^th March that four US Marines – accused of raping a Japanese woman - will be court-martialed.

The incident is alleged to have taken place in Hiroshima in 2007.

Court-Martial Announcement Follows Okinawa Rape Claims

The announcement comes in swift succession to the claims of another US military rape case, covered here, which, again involving a US Marine, occurred on the Japanese island of Okinawa.

According to a spokesman for Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station, two of the four Hiroshima rape case soldiers will be court-martialed in April and May. The remaining two will face similar action, but at a date yet to be decided.

"The Marine Corps does take seriously any and all allegations of misconduct by its Marines", the spokesman stated.

According to reports that emerged in October 2007, the rape took place in a car.

Previously, prosecutors in Japan had let the case go, on grounds of insufficient evidence. However, the US military vowed to continue investigating the claims.

US Marines Charged with Sexual Assault, Rape

At the end of last year, the US military charged the four Marines with a number of violations – among them, sexual assault and rape.

Approximately 50,000 members of the US armed forces are stationed in Japan. Residents close to the bases have a number of longstanding grievances over the US military presence, including those to do with noise.

The alleged rape in Okinawa – which led to the imposition of a curfew – was reminiscent of a previous incident in 1995 involving a schoolgirl, aged 12. The event provoked large-scale protests, and raised concerns over the US/Japanese alliance, under which terms the US military is bound to protect Japan.

Source – Armed Forces International’s Far East Correspondent

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