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CNN Live At Daybreak

United States Hands Over Accused U.S. Serviceman to Japan

Aired July 06, 2001 - 08:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. government has handed over an American serviceman accused of rape in Okinawa. The incident has strained U.S./Japanese relations and fanned further resentment over U.S. military presence in Okinawa.

The latest developments now from CNN's Tokyo bureau chief, Rebecca MacKinnon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): More than a week after he is alleged to have raped an Okinawa woman, the U.S. government agreed to hand over Senior Staff Sergeant Timothy Woodland for arrest by Okinawa police.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker met with Japanese foreign minister Makiko Tanaka to inform her of Washington's decision. Tokyo has been requesting to hand-over since Monday. According to a U.S./Japan Status of Forces Agreement, the U.S. military can, but is not required to hand over suspects accused of rape or murder before they are indicted.

HOWARD BAKER, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN: We have satisfied ourselves that our U.S. service member will receive fair and humane treatment throughout his custody. The United States government has taken this case seriously and regrets any instances of misconduct by U.S. personnel in Japan.

MACKINNON: The delay in Woodland's hand-over, U.S. and Japanese officials say, was due to Washington's concerns about Japanese police procedures and whether Woodland's rights would be given the same protection as in the United States.

An emotional foreign minister, Makiko Tanaka, called the protracted negotiations a trying experience.

"Japan must show the world that Japanese police and justice authorities can investigate suspects in a fair and humanitarian manner," she said.

The diplomatic impasse may have been solved, but many in Okinawa, home to 26,000 U.S. troops, say public frustration still runs high. Local politicians blame last week's alleged rape on the overconcentration of U.S. service people. Calls continued for a revision of the U.S./Japan Status of Forces Agreement and reduction of U.S. bases on the island.

KEITH HENRY, MIT JAPAN PROGRAM: In terms of an increasing negative feeling of the Japanese, or unease among the Japanese people regarding America and the American presence here, it's almost like a drip, drip, drip. Each incident adds a little bit more to the reservoir of bad feeling here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACKINNON: Observers here say that both governments would very much like to put this latest Okinawa incident behind them very quickly. As for Japanese public opinion, some fear that this latest incident could be used as yet another case in point by those who question whether the U.S. military takes the feelings of its Japanese hosts seriously -- Colleen.

MCEDWARDS: Well, despite those strained feelings, Rebecca, are there any longer-term implications for relations between the two countries?

MACKINNON: Well, Colleen, that is yet to be seen.

It appears that both governments very much hope to minimize any implications. And both governments feel that it's necessary to have U.S. troops here in Japan. However, when it comes to Okinawa, it appears that politicians from Okinawa, and potentially other politicians in Japan, may begin to push harder for streamlining of U.S. troops, particularly in Okinawa, for a change of what's called the Status of Forces Agreement governing the U.S. troops to make it easier for U.S. suspects to be handed over in cases like this.

It is very clear that the Japanese public was extremely impatient with how long it took to hand Woodland over -- Colleen.

MCEDWARDS: All right, CNN's Rebecca MacKinnon in Tokyo, thanks very much.

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