Tokyo, July 3 (IANS) Hundreds of Japanese citizens have gathered here in Tokyo to strongly protest against the Japanese government for concealing the alleged sexual assault cases involving US military personnel in Japan from the public.

Over 350 protesters gathered in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the heart of Tokyo to express their outrage over the silence of the government on Tuesday evening, wielding placards and banners that read “Silenced Cries of Okinawan Girls,” “Restore Dignity to Okinawan Women,” and “No More Govt Cover-Ups of US Troop Crimes”, reported Xinhua news agency.

According to local media reports, a 21-year-old US Marine in the southernmost Japan prefecture of Okinawa has been indicted on charges of nonconsensual sexual intercourse resulting in injury in May, following the indictment of a US Air Force member for the alleged kidnap and sexual assault of a girl under 16 in December.

The Japanese government, however, did not disclose the cases until local media exposed them at the end of June, sparking widespread anger across the nation.

“The Japanese government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, knew it but chose to remain silent. This is undemocratic. They are ignoring the people of Japan, the women of Japan, and the people of Okinawa,” condemned Mizuho Fukushima, head of the opposition Social Democratic Party, during her speech at the protest.

“While claiming to protect the victims, the government is sheltering the offenders,” criticised Suzuyo Takazato, leader of an Okinawan civic group.

Hatsuko Aoki, a 76-year-old protester from the Okinawan city of Nago, could barely hold back her anger when recalling witnessing her elders being threatened by US military men during her childhood.

“As long as US military bases remain in Japan, such incidents will continue to take place,” bellowed the elderly citizen.

“I can’t forgive the government for concealing the US military sexual assault cases,” Aoki told Xinhua, condemning the Japanese government for colluding with the US military to conceal these crimes, not only to manipulate the election results but also to suppress protests against the construction of US military’s new Henoko base in Japan.

In the mid-June Okinawa Prefectural Assembly elections, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, Komeito, who support the relocation plan of the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, gained a majority for the first time in 16 years.

Representatives from multiple civil groups at Tuesday’s protest stressed that if the assault cases had been disclosed before the elections, the LDP would have struggled to secure a majority, indicating ulterior motives of the government.

Amid overcast skies and drizzly rain, many female citizens brought bouquets to the site to show solidarity with the victims of the assaults. Among them was Rei Saito, who came to express her empathy as a young woman.

She said, “What’s even more unforgivable is that the Okinawa police didn’t report the cases to the prefectural government. They seem to believe they can act with impunity, a trend of which is becoming more blatant”.

Okinawa hosts 70 per cent of all US military bases in Japan while accounting for only 0.6 percent of the country’s total land area. Crimes committed by US service members and nonmilitary personnel have been a constant source of grievance for locals.

Tragedies continue to occur decades after massive protests in Japan when in 1995 a 12-year-old girl was raped by three US servicemen. “Okinawans do not know how much similar harm they have to endure for the Japanese government,” a protester lamented.

–IANS

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Moscow, July 3 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday sent a condolence message to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the stampede in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district.

“Esteemed Mrs President, Esteemed Mr Prime Minister, kindly accept the most sincere condolences over the tragic accident in Uttar Pradesh. Please convey words of sympathy and support to the near and dear ones of the deceased as well as wishes for a speedy recovery of all injured,” Putin said in his condolence message.

PM Modi is expected to visit Moscow next week to hold bilateral talks with the Russian President.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that the preparations for Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Russia are in the “final stages”, and the dates will be announced soon.

“We will announce this visit officially a little later, by agreement with our Indian friends. I can only confirm to you once again that the visit is in the final stage of preparation,” Peskov was quoted as saying by local media during a media briefing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Press Secretary also stated that PM Modi’s visit, widely expected to be around July 8, is a “very important” event.

In New York, as Russia took over the monthly Presidency of the UN Security Council on Monday, the country’s Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia highlighted the special privileged strategic partnership between the two countries and asserted that “serious messages” will come out of PM Modi’s visit to Moscow.

“India is a longtime friend of Russia. We cooperate in so many areas, and I think there will be substantive conversations on the whole range of issues that our countries cooperate on,” he told reporters.

“I’m not aware of what kind of documents will be the result of that visit, but I’m sure that there will be serious messages coming out of it, and, I presume, in the form of joint documents as well. I expect Russian-Indian relations to blossom even better,” added the Russian diplomat.

Prime Minister Modi last visited Russia for the 20th India-Russia Bilateral Summit held on the sidelines of the 5th Eastern Economic Summit – where he was the guest of honour – at Vladivostok in September 2019.

The visit acted as a game-changer as far as India’s focus on the Russian Far East was concerned and paved the way for New Delhi’s larger cooperation with Moscow in the fields of oil and gas, road transport, defence, trade and investment sectors.

PM Modi, who is not attending the SCO Heads of State meeting being held in Astana, last paid an official visit to Moscow in 2015.

–IANS

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Sydney, July 3 (IANS) Authorities issued an urgent health alert on Wednesday after a new case of measles was reported in the Australian state of Victoria.

The Victorian Department of Health confirmed that the case was identified in a returned overseas traveller, who appeared at multiple public sites in the state whilst infectious, Xinhua news agency reported.

The infected patient arrived at Melbourne International Airport on June 25 from Singapore before visiting Colac, Warrnambool, and Port Campbell.

Locations listed in the statement included a fast-food restaurant, a hotel and several shops.

“There have now been 11 cases of measles reported in Victoria since January 1, 2024,” said the health department.

Local communities were warned of the potential exposure to measles due to any overseas travel.

The authority noted that measles outbreaks have been recently reported in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the United States.

“There should be an especially high level of suspicion if they have travelled overseas or visited any of the sites listed above and are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated for measles,” the department added, urging anyone who presents with measles-related symptoms to get tested.

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can lead to severe complications, such as pneumonia, brain inflammation, and even death.

In November last year, the World Health Organization rang the alarm of a rising measles threat worldwide.

–IANS

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Vientiane, July 3 (IANS) Seven people were killed and 43 others injured in unexploded ordnance (UXO)-related accidents during past six months, with most of the accidents occurring while children were playing with these devices or farmers were digging.

From January to June, over 33,500 UXO devices have been cleared from 2,543 hectares of land, according to a report issued on Wednesday by the Lao National Regulatory Authority for the UXO/Mine Action Sector, reported Xinhua news agency.

A total of 1,425 explosive ordnance risk education sessions were organised in 472 villages, with 153,663 people attending. Twenty UXO-related accidents were reported, involving 43 victims.

In addition, assistance was provided to 1,832 victims of UXO-related accidents.

Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world in terms of per capita. Throughout 1964-1973, over 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on Laos, of which 30 per cent failed to explode.

Over 270 million cluster munitions were dropped from US warplanes, leaving an estimated 80 million live bomblets scattered and buried around the Southeast Asian country.

–IANS

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Astana, July 3 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Wednesday pressed for the safe and expeditious return of Indian nationals currently in the war zone in Ukraine during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana.

“Wide ranging conversation on our bilateral partnership and contemporary issues. Noted the progress in many areas since our last meeting in December 2023. Raised our strong concern on Indian nationals who are currently in the war zone. Pressed for their safe and expeditious return,” the EAM posted on X after his meeting with Lavrov.

“Also discussed the global strategic landscape and exchanged assessments and views,” Jaishankar added.

The EAM is leading the Indian delegation at the 24th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State which will be held on Thursday.

The Indian government revealed last month that two Indian nationals recruited by the Russian Army have been killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Later, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that as many as 10 Indians recruited by the Russian Army have been released and repatriated back to India.

The ministry had strongly taken up the matter with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and with Russian authorities in Moscow for early release and return of all Indian nationals who are with the Russian Army.

India had also demanded that there be a verified stop to any further recruitment of its nationals by the Russian Army.

“Such activities would not be in consonance with our partnership. We also urge Indian nationals to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia,” the MEA stated on June 11.

After meeting Lavrov, the EAM paid homage to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Pushkin Park in Astana. He was also joined by members of the Indian community and friends of India.

Earlier, soon after his arrival in Astana on Tuesday evening, Jaishankar met Murat Nurtleu, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan.

“Discussed our expanding Strategic Partnership and India’s increasing engagement with Central Asia in various formats. Also exchanged views on regional and global issues,” said the EAM after the meeting.

India on Tuesday made it clear that its priorities at the SCO Summit are shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of SECURE, which stands for Security, Economic development, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environmental protection.

The MEA said that the leaders attending the summit are expected to review the organisation’s activities over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of multilateral cooperation.

Topical issues of regional and international importance are also expected to be discussed at the meeting.

The principle of SECURE reflected the theme of India’s first-ever presidency of SCO, as was asserted by PM Modi during the virtual SCO Summit hosted by New Delhi on July 4, last year.

–IANS

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