July 10th, 2001

Honorary President of U.S. George W. Bush,

This is to require you to withdraw all the U.S. military bases from Okinawa.

Let us first make clear that we are enraged by the felonious sexual crime commited by an Air Force personnel of your country on the morning of June 29th in Chatan Town in Okinawa. Let us also point out that you are responsible for this rape.
We must tell you that this kind of incident was to be expected. You must know the outburst of anger all over in Okinawa caused by the rape of a young girl by three members of your Marine Corps in September, 1995. That, however, did not change the way human rights, especially the rights of women in Okinawa has been trampled. We have witnessed a repeated cases of felonious crimes, sexual assaults, serial arson, hitting and run, intrusion into a civilian house by a naked man all commited by U.S. soldiers. Each time we were promised for an enforcement of strict official discipline, educational programs and after all these we see the latest crime. All these promises were of no avail. It was also made clear that no matter how many rhetorics may be used, the U.S. Army can never be a "Good Neighbor" to our people of Okinawa.

On July 6th, the rape suspect was finally handed over to the Okinawa police. Your government had refused to do this based upon the special previlege allowed to your military personnel. You should know how this arrogance helped to build up the anger of the Okinawan and us.
We first demand that you sincerely apologize to the victim woman and pay sufficient compensation. You must, however, go further and withdraw all the U.S. military forces from Okinawa.
As long as the U.S. bases continue to exist on Okinawa there would be no end to the crimes commited by U.S. soldiers. The promise of realigment, consolidation and reduction of U.S. military installations based upon the SACO agreement is far from sufficient to solve the problems. Upon your inauguration you made clear your hostility to China and contributed to mount the military tension in Asia-Pacific regions. Your policy is unacceptable as it consolidates the militarization of Okinawa.

There is no way except withdrawal of all the U.S. military bases from Okinawa to solve the problem. Last month you have decided not to continue the U.S. military drill on Vieques Island of Puerto Rico. You have then said that the islanders of the Vieques did not want the U.S. army on their land. The people of Okinawa do not want the U.S. military on their land either. You must withdraw all the U.S. military bases from the Okinawa. As the supreme leader of your country you should waste no time deciding the withdrawal.

The Kanto Chapter of Okinawa Anti-War Land Owners
　Representative: Uehara Seishin