
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 27, 1995                   TAG: 9509270060
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: GINOWAN, OKINAWA                                LENGTH: Medium

JAPAN MIXED OVER U.S. TROOPS

Chanting ``Yankee, Go Home,'' a refrain rarely heard in Japan, thousands of Okinawans took to the streets Tuesday to protest the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen.

But even as anger over the alleged rape focused resentment on the large U.S. military presence here, Japan made it clear it wanted the American military to stay.

Under an agreement approved Tuesday by the Cabinet, Japan will pay a bigger share of the cost of stationing U.S. troops here. The deal was expected to be made formal during talks on the defense agreement between the United States and Japan in New York today.

Though polls indicate most Japanese support the current security arrangement with the United States, the rape case has generated outrage among residents of this island, where nearly 30,000 U.S. troops are stationed. Roughly 45,000 Americans are stationed throughout Japan.

The peaceful demonstration Tuesday was attended by about 3,000 people, and organizers hope to draw as many as 40,000 people to a rally next month.

``We want those men, and we want the U.S. bases, off our island,'' said Yoshiharu Arakaki, head of the Okinawa Peace Movement Center, a left-leaning group that organized Tuesday's rally.

Reflecting the importance the United States places on its military presence on Okinawa, the top U.S. military commander in Japan, Ambassador Walter Mondale and even President Clinton have denounced the alleged attack and offered their apologies.

The rape issue was almost certain to figure prominently into discussions today between Seishiro Eto, Japan's defense minister, and Defense Secretary William Perry, a spokesman for Japan's Defense Agency in Tokyo said.

But both countries have stressed they have no intention of reviewing their basic security pact because of the current uproar.

While raising criticisms of the U.S.-Japan security arrangement, the rape case also has focused attention on an agreement that gives the U.S. military custody over personnel suspected in crimes off base until formal charges are filed.

The three suspects are being held on Camp Hansen, a Marine base.

Prosecutors are now reviewing the evidence, and charges must be either filed or the case dropped within 30 days.

by CNB