Angry Okinawa wants smaller U.S. military presence

By Linda Sieg

TOKYO (Reuters) - Angry lawmakers on Japan's southern island of Okinawa called for progress on shrinking the U.S. military presence and tighter discipline among U.S. troops after the arrest of a Marine on suspicion of raping a schoolgirl.

The 38-year-old Marine, Tyrone Hadnott, based at Camp Courtney on the island, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of raping the 14-year-old Japanese girl when the two were in a car on Sunday. He has denied raping the girl but acknowledged forcing her to kiss him, an Okinawa police spokesman said.

"Considering the fact that such vicious, atrocious incidents have never ceased to occur, we must question the way the U.S. military enforces discipline and educates its soldiers," the Okinawa assembly said in a resolution protesting the incident.

The lawmakers demanded an apology and compensation for the girl and her family, steps to prevent similar crimes in the future, and a reduction of U.S. forces on the island, reluctant host to the bulk of the nearly 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan.

The top commander of the U.S. forces in Japan told reporters that the military had set up a task force to review and strengthen programs to prevent sexual harassment and assault.

"It is our job to do everything we can to restore the confidence of the Japanese people in the U.S. forces stationed here in Japan," Lieutenant-General Bruce Wright said.

"We are making no excuses and are absolutely committed to preventing this from happening again," he added.

The incident has triggered memories of the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen that ignited huge protests on Okinawa.