MIGRANTE-Japan condemns in the strongest terms the criminal neglect of the Arroyo government in regard to the plight of "Hazel", a Filipina OFW (overseas Filipino worker) allegedly raped on February 18, 2008, two days after she arrived in Okinawa Japan, to work as a contract worker.

The alleged assailant, an unnamed member of the U.S. Army belonging to the Patriot Anti-Missile (PACS) stationed in Okinawa, Japan, was earlier relieved from the rape charges against him after Japanese prosecutors from the Naha District Prosecutors Office inexplicably dropped the case for "lack of sufficient evidence".

MIGRANTE-Japan deplores the hasty thrashing of the rape case as it runs against the wishes of the victim. The Japanese prosecutors obviously did not take into account the earlier statements made by "Hazel" and the earlier findings of the Naha District Police who noted serious physical injuries inflicted on the victim in its initial investigation.

But what infuriates us more is the fact that the Arroyo government has done nothing about the plight of "Hazel". We are embarrassed to say the least to see that while other governments scamper to aid its nationals faced with similar ordeal, the Arroyo government has kept mum about the case and at times even concealing information about the victim and her condition.

The plight of "Hazel" is something not new to many Filipinos in Japan. Back in the Philippines, we have had many cases of rape also involving American soldiers when two large U.S. military bases (Clark Airbase and Subic Naval Base) were stationed in the Philippines for 50 years. However, none of these cases prospered or even reached the courts. But no one is to blame for the outcome of these cases except the Philippine government for its tendency to aid the "bad guys" rather than help the victims. One case in point is the case of "Nicole", then a 22-year old Filipina who was raped by four US marines in November 2005. After one year of trial and in spite of overwhelming evidence, only one of the four U.S. marines was convicted of the crime. Sadly again, through the aid of the Arroyo government that succumbed to pressures from the U.S., the convicted rapist, Lt. Daniel Smith, remains a free man having been under the protective custody of the U.S. Embassy in Manila for almost two years now while "Nicole", on the other hand, continues to cry out for justice.

MIGRANTE-Japan asks: What kind of government is this that harbors criminals rather than helps its own citizens?

MIGRANTE-Japan believes that the dropping of the case against the U.S. Army serviceman was a clear cover up meant to dissipate the mounting people's protest against the presence of U.S. military bases in Japan that has become more intense since the spate of rape and sexual assaults involving American soldiers surfaced in recent months. It is a diplomatic move and the Arroyo government wittingly played by the game.

Without the support of the Arroyo government, the victim had no other recourse but to come out and openly pursue and fight her case. With the support of the Filipino community in Japan, the victim made an appeal to the public "to know the truth and facts" about her rape, and to dispel rumors being circulated in media that have portrayed her in a very bad light. We expect that more stories that belie the truth will surface now that the victim has come out to speak up. But the truth shall prevail and at the end of the day, what matters is who the people support.

MIGRANTE-Japan therefore appeals to the Japanese people to rally behind "Hazel" and to pressure its own government to take the side of the people against these abusive U.S. military personnel in Okinawa and in other parts of Japan.

We demand the U.S. Military Command in Okinawa not to harbor criminals and instead side with the truth so that justice may prevail.

We reiterate our denunciation of the criminal inaction and neglect of the Arroyo government and express support for the victim and her family back in the Philippines. We shall rally the Filipino community in Japan to shield the victim from any further harm and insult, and to march with her until she gets the justice she deserves.

JUSTICE FOR "HAZEL"! JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS OF RAPE BY U.S. SOLDIERS!
NO TO COVER UP! TELL ONLY THE TRUTH!
GLORIA ARROYO: HELP THE VICTIM, DON'T BE AN INSTRUMENT TO COVER UP!
NO TO U.S. MILITARY BASES IN JAPAN AND ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION!