OKINAWA WOMEN'SAMERICA PEACE CARAVAN

(February 3-17, 1996)

Okinawa: Past and Present

People's Republicof China

Okinawa is the southwesternmost prefecture of Japan.

kinawa, Japan's south-westernmost prefecture,is composed of more than160 islands, of which 50

are inhabited, that are scatteredover a wide sea area spanning620 miles from east to west and250 miles from north to south.Okinawa Prefecture currentlyhas a population of 1.26 million.The prefecture is located inclose proximity to SoutheastAsia and other Pacific nations:two and a half hours to Tokyo(approximately 960 miles), onehour and 30 minutes to Shang-hai, China (approximately 400miles), and one hour to Taiwan

(approximately 370 miles).Ideally situated in Asia, Oki-

nawa, once known as the Ryu-kyu Kingdom, entered into traderelations with China and South-east Asian countries in the 14thcentury, establishing the GreatEra of Overseas Trade. Duringthe Kingdom Period, theredeveloped a rich culture whichgave birth to Okinawa's beautifularts and crafts, such as theRyukyuan performing arts, dyedtextiles, lacquerware, andpottery. Furthermore, as theonly Japanese prefecture with asubtropical, oceanic climate,Okinawa is blessed with a rich

natural environment that inclu-des emerald-green seas andwhite sandy beaches. With theintroduction of bio-technologysuited to the subtropical climate,Okinawa has become the na-tion's leading cultivator andexporter of orchids and thesecond leading producer ofchrysanthemums.

Okinawa's natural beauty,along with its unique culture,a t t racts nearly 3.2 milliontourists every year, from placessuch as Taiwan, Korea, andmainland Japan.

OKINAWAN'WOMEN ACT AGAINST MILITARY VIOLENCEc/o Space Yui, 3-9-1 Makishi ?

Naha City, Okinawa 900 Japantel/FAX 098-864-1539

AMERICA PEACE CARAVANFebruary 3-17, 1996

San Franciso - Washington1,' '#.*£. - New York - Honolulu

While Okinawa Prefecture coafpostBs only 0i6% of the total land area of Japan, it bears theburden of 75% of the total U.S. military presence in Japan. Under the exceedingly unjusttreatment by the Japanese government, the Okinawan people have suffered through the 27 yearsof U.S. military control and 23 years since Okinawa's fevefsiori to Japan. Their livelihoodand human rights have been violated throughout the 50 years of the postwar era by high-levelnoise pollution from military drills, aircraft accidents, environmental destruction, and themany crimes committed by U.S. military personnel. Since Okinawa's reversion to Japan in 1972,the total number of officially confirmed crimes and incidents numbers over 4,700, with 509 ofthose being particularly brutal.

The abduction and rape of an elementary school girl by three U.S. military personnel thatoccurred in September 1995 makes us realize that we must change the situation of living sideby side with military bases and military personnel in an atmosphere of constant fear andtension, so that our children may grow up in a healthy environment. During the 50 years sincethe U.S. forces landed in Okinawa, untold numbers of girls and women have been attacked byU.S. military personnel. These crimes of sexual violence must be seen not merely as crimescommitted by individual soldiers, but as crimes produced by the military system. We feel deepanger when we realize that most of these crimes have been ignored. At the same time, we issuea strong appeal for the implementation of a public system to heal the deep wounds of thevictims and restore their human rights. Responding to this critical need, we have establishedthe Rape Emergency Intervention Counseling Center - Okinawa (REICO) volunteer hotline andcounseling program.

"Okinawan Women Act Against Military Violence" was organized on November 8, 1995, as anoutgrowth of the participation of 71 Okinawan women in the Beijing Women's Conference NGOForum last September. We feuse our position on the section of the Platform of Action approvedby the Beijing Women's Conference that clearly states: "Rape that takes place in a situationof armed conflict constitutes both a war crime and a crime against humanity." We are proceedingon the premise that the same holds true for Okinawa, which has long suffered a foreign militarymilitary presence. Okinawan women have resolved that we will no longer tolerate this violenceand violation of human rights, and have thus petitioned the Japanese government to consolidatethe U.S. bases and withdraw U.S.military personnel, review the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty andthe Status of Forces Agreement, and award full compensation to all victims. We have conducteda signature campaign, engaged in a 12-day sit-in demonstration, and visited the both PrimeMinister's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue our appeal. We have receivedwide support for our efforts from women throughout Japan.

- 1 -

Addressing the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women and the NGO Forum in her capacityas the Honorary Chairperson of the U.S. Delegation, Hillary Rodham Clinton lifted specificexamples of human rights violation suffered by women in countries around the world, andissued an appeal to the women of the world, declaring, "If human rights are not protected,women's dignity cannot be guaranteed," "Women's rights are human rights," and "As we face the21st century, let us break the silence." We issued this same appeal to women from around theworld who gathered at our NGO Forum workshop on "Military Violence and Women in Okinawa."

Recognizing that the governments of all nations have pledged themselves to implementingthe Platform for Action ratified in the Beijing Declaration to ensure that all governmentsexamine their policies from the viewpoint of gender, we sincerely hope that the April meetingof Japanese Prime Minister Hashimoto and U.S. President Clinton shall result in an improvementof the Okinawan situation, and in particular, that the security of the lives of women andchildren shall be guaranteed.

The Okinawan Women's two-week American Peace Caravan will visit four cities to shareinformation about Okinawa and the U.S. military presence there with American women, U.S.Congresswomen, citizens, a.nd members of the UN Commission on the Status of Women and theHuman Rights Commission, and discuss our common concerns for peace. We seek your support, thatthese encounters and exchange may build a network that results in a society that guaranteesthe dignity of every person, a peaceful society achieved without weapons.

January 1996 Suzuyo Takazato and Keiko Itokazu, Co-chairpersons

Okinawan Women Act Against Military Violence

A m e r i c a P e a c e C a r a v a n S c h e d u l e C o n t a c t

F e b . 3 — 6 : S a n F r a n c i s c oF e b . 6 ~ 1 0 : W a s h i n g t o n , D. C.F e b . 1 0 - 1 4 : N e w Y o r k C i t yF e b . 1 4 - 1 6 : H o n o l u l u

M.Matsuoka:tel 415-788-3666 fax 415-788-7324P.Harvey: tel 202-544-7198 fax 202-544-7767Patterson: tel 212-870-2021 fax 202-870-2055R.Takumi: tel 808-456-2665 fax 808-586-6171

- 2 -

O K I N A W A N WOMEN' S A M E R I C A P E A C E C A R A V A N

C a r a v a n C o o r d i n a t o r s

T a k a z a t o S u z u y o Naha City AssemblywomanK u w a e T e r u k o Okinawa City Women's Affairs Department ChiefC a r o l y n F r a n c i s United Methodist Missionary, Okinawa District, UCCJ

C a r a v a n M e m b e r s

G i n o z a E i k oK u b o t a T o s h i k o

Gushikawa City Commercial High School English teacherNaha City Assemblywoman

M i n a m o t o H i r o m i Radio Okinawa Broadcasting Corporation ProducerM i y a g i S a t o k oM i y a g i T o s h i k o

Nago City AssemblywomanOkinawa Prefecture Hospital Nutrition Section Chief

T e n g a n MayumiT o g u c h i S u m i k o

Ginowan Seminar House Staff, "Young Voice" Co-organizerSecretary-general, Okinawa Prefecture Liaison Council of

Women's OrganizationsT o m i y a m a M i t s u e Katsuren Town AssemblywomanU t s u m i E m i k o Instructor of Japanese ConstitutionY a m a u c h i S u e k o Ishikawa City Assemblywoman

Y o n a m i n e K a z u e Okinawa Times reporter

R y u k y u S h i t n p o r e p o r t e r

\~*T f—f

Takazato Suzuyo Carolyn Francis Kuwae Teruko Utsumi Emiko

K

Ginoza Eiko

Kubota Toshiko Tonn>ama Mitsue Toguchi Sumiko Tengan Mayumi Minamoto Hiromi

Miyagi Satoko Miyagi Toshiko

- 3 -

Yamauchi Sueko

0 k iA

n am

w a n Wo• i

S

mcc

e

h

n

e d

A

u

c

1

tFe

A

(

g

a

a£

s

ia.

nco

s

f

t

J

M

a

i

n

1 iC

t a

3 0

r

}

y VE i

i o 1 e£ 3 .

nr

ci

e Sat. , i

NE

Sat.,

D a t e / T i m e P r o g r a m

Sat., Feb. 3: 2:20 pm4:057:00

Depart Naha (JAL 894)

Arrive Osaka/Kansai

Depart Osaka/Kansai (United - f i t . 810)

Sun.,

Mon.,

SAN FRANCISCO

Sat., Feb. 3: 11:40 am

5:00

Sun., Feb. 4: daytime

7:00 pm

Mon., Feb. 5: 8:00 amdaytime

6:30 pm

Tues., Feb. 6: 8:55 am

Arrive in San Francisco (United fit. 810)Check-in to The Terrace Motel, El Cerrito (tel 510-235-8335 FAX 510-235-7101)San Franciso contact: Martha Matsuoka (tel 415-788-3666 FAX 415-788-7324)Dinner meeting with local committee and others

Group 1: Visit to former Presidio military base, now national parkGroup 2: Visit to Ft. Ord, military base scheduled for closureDinner at East Bay home of Ms. Hiroko Sakamaki, San Francisco OkinawanAssociation member

Breakfast meeting with the San Francisco Labor CouncilNaval Air Station tourVisit Asian Women's Shelter/women's groupsPress conference"Survival and Self Determination" Public Forum

Depart San Francisco (United fit. 970)

Tues

Wed

Wet

WASH I NGTON, D. C

Tues., Feb. 6: 4:40 pm

Wed., Feb. 7: daytime

Thurs., Feb. 8: 10:00

Fri., Feb. 9: daytime

Arrive Washington, D. C. (Dulles Airport) United fit. 970Check-in to Holiday Inn Central (tel 202-797-1078 FAX 202-483-2000)Washington, D.C. contact: Pharis Harvey (tel 202-544-7198 FAX 202-544-7767)

Visits with Congress members/staffSightseeing

Visit with top staff of Sen. Barbara BoxerVisits with Congress members/staffNetworking with peace, justice, women's groups

Visits with Congress members/staffNetworking with peace, justice, women's groups

Sat., Feb. 10: 11:55 am Depart Washington, D.C. (Dulles Airport) United Express fit. 6595

NEW YORK CITY

Sat., Feb. 10: 1:05 pm

Sun., Feb. 11: morning2:00 pm

Mon., Feb. 12: morning11:30 a.m.

evening

awan

Tues

Wed.

H

. Feb.

Feb.

ONO

13:

14:

LU

10:0012:30

2:003:004:00

ampm

evening

8:45

LU

am

Wed. Feb. 14: 5:05 pm

7:00

Thurs., Feb.

Fri., Feb. 16

Sat. Feb. 17:

15:

12

morning12:00

2:00 pm3:306:30

8:00 am

:00 noon3:30 pm6:15

Arrive New York City (LaGuardia Airport) United Express fit. 6595Check-in to Hotel Edison (tel 212-840-5000 FAX 212-596-6850)New York City contact: Patricia Patterson (tel 212-870-2021 FAX 212-870-2055)

Sightseeing

Meeting with Manhattan Branch of Okinawa Association at Nikkei Kaikan

Appointments at UN with human rights, status of women staffGroup 1: UN TourGroup 2: Exchange with Prof. Kent Calder and Princeton University faculty and

students at Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International AffirsFree

Visit Columbia University Teachers College Program on Peace EducationLunch meeting with National Christian Council of Churches-USA, Committe on EastAsia and the PacificVisit Barnard College Women Studies ProgramVisit Barnard College Center for Research on WomenAttend Barnard College Panel Discussion on "Battered Women and Abused ChildrenFree

Depart New York City (Newark Airport) United fit. 837

Arrive Honolulu (via San Francisco) United fit. 185Check-in to Pagoda Hottel & Terrace (tel 808-941-6611 FAX 808-922-8061)Honolulu contact: Roy Takumi (tel 808-456-2665 FAX 808-586-6172)Reception at Washington Place (Governor's Mansion)

Sightseeing

Lunch meeting with University of Hawai'i - Manoa Women's Studies Program staff,Women's Center, Office of Women's ResearchVisit Hawai'i Okinawa Center

Meeting with students and public at University of Hawai'i - West O'ahuCandlelight Vigil and Public Forum at State Capitol building

Depart Honolulu (United fit. 827)

Arrive Narita (United fit. 827)Depart Haneda (JAL 907)Arrive Naha

- 5 ~

OKINAWAN WOMEN ACT AGAINST MILITARY VIOLENCE

c/o Space Yui, 3-9-1 Makishi

Naha City, Okinawa 900 Japan

tel/FAX 098-864^1539

Febmary 1996

Dear Friends of Women:

Thank you for the many ways you have supported us in our struggle against military power

and the accompanying sexual violence experienced by women and children in Okinawa. We want

to continue to share with you the basic issues related to the massive U.S. military presence

in Okinawa, together with a brief update on the actions that women in Okinawa have taken since

the Fourth U.N. World Conference on Women and NGO Forum.

SEPTEMBER 10: Return from Beijing to learn of the rape of a 12-year-old Okinawa girl by 3 GIs.

SEPTEMBER 11: Press Conference to protest the rape and announce a women's rally on September 23.

SEPTEMBER 23: "Women's - Children's - Islanders Rally to Protest the Rape of a Young Girl"

accompanied by a procession to Kadena Air Base gate for small demonstration.

OCTOBER 21: "Okinawa Prefecture Citizens' Protest Rally against the Rape of a Young Girl,"

attended by 85,000 Okinawans, including many women, youth and young families.

OCTOBER 25: Rape Crisis Counseling Center is established to provide telephone counseling and

face-to-face interviews with women psychiatrists and professional counselors.

NOVEMBER 8~20: Women's Sit-in/Signature Campaign in front of Okinawa Prefecture Office.

NOVEMBER 17 ~ 1 8 : Twenty-five women travel to Tokyo to protest U.S. bases in Okinawa and sexual

violence against women and girls, present 55,000 signatures to the Prime

Minister's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and speak about

Okinawa at citizen rallies.

NOVEMBER 29: "Okinawa Women Act against Military Violence," organized around 4 themes:

1) Regional teach-in/speak-outs on the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the Status of

Forces Agreement, and the implementation of the portions of the Platform for

Action approved in Beijing that relate to military violence against women;

2) Providing information updates to women in mainland Japan and overseas;

3) Monitoring trial of three U.S. military personnel charged with rape of girl;

4) Organizing a networking tour to the U.S. in February 1996.

FEBRUARY 3~17: America Women's Peace Caravan networks with citizens/leaders in four U.S.cities.

Keiko Itokazu and Suzuyo Takazato

Co-chairpersons

- 6 -

To: U.S. President Bill ClintonJapanese Prime Minister Tomiichi MurayamaU.S. Consul - Okinawa Aloyius M. OnealCommander, U.S. Forces - Okinawa Wayne E. Rollings

T h e D e c 1 a r a t i o n o f t h e" C h i l d r e n - W o m e n - C i t i ?. e n s ' R a l l y o n

V i o l e n c e a n d H u m a n R i g h t s V i o l a t i o n sA g a i n s t G i r l s a n d W o m e n "

We, who have gathered today to protest the kidnapping and rape of the Okinawan elementaryschool girl by three U.S. military personnel on September 4, feel once again both theenormity of the terror and suffering thrust upon the young girl as she went about her dailylife, and the shock and anger felt by her mother and other family members. The attack by thethree assailants upon "anyone female" was not an attack upon only this one young girl and herfamily. Rather, it represents the violence perpetrated against all girls and women inOkinawa, and is a gross violation of human rights.

We recall and feel deep anger from the bottom of our hearts as we recognize this act asan unpermissable violation of the dignity of this young girl. At the same time, we alsoremember the countless numbers of other girls and women whose dignity has been trod upon thesepast 50 years, from the day the U.S. military forces landed on Okinawa until today, 23 yearsafter Okinawa's reversion to Japan.

We recognize the high concentration of military bases in Okinawa and the military systemas one that trains its members each day in how to kill, wound and overpower the opponent.This system turns its soldiers into war machines who inflict violence on the Okinawancommunity, only a chain-link fence away. Thus, this violence is not merely individual crimescommitted by individual military personnel but, rather, constitutes the violence of themilitary system itself, violence that will continue to exist as long as military bases andmilitary personnel remain in Okinawa.

We must alter the present social environment to ensure the physical and emotional healthof Okinawan children, and to enable girls and women to live free from daily danger and stress,the same danger and stress suffered by children, women and citizens throughout the worldwherever regional conflicts rage. We pledge ourselves to the building of a peaceful societyfree of all military power and weapons.

The women of the world who gathered this month in Beijing for the Fourth World Conferenceon Women and the NGO Forum shared reports of the violence and atrocities committed againstgirls and women. The Platform for Action approved by the Conference declares "rape in theconduct of armed conflict constitutes a war crime" calling upon governments and relatedorganizations to adopt a strong stance in this regard. It is clear that Japan as a ratifierof The Convention on the Rights of the Child must take responsibility fcr providing medicaltreatment and care to restore to wholeness those children who endure human rights violations,physical and psychological wounds.

- 7 -

On the basis of the above, we appeal on the following points:

1) We protest strongly the rape of the elementary school girl, and call for the issuingof an apology and compensation;

2) We call on the U.S. military authorities to make public their programs related tocrime prevention, sexually transmitted disease and HIV-AIDS;

3) We call for a reappraisal of the Status of Forces of Agreement;4) We call upon the Japanese government to implement an adequate policy of protection,

assistance and counseling for victims of sexual violence;5) We call for the removal of U.S. military bases from Okinawa.

September 23, 1995 "Die Participants in the

Childrens - Women - Citizens' Rally on

Violence and Human Rights Violations

Against Girls and Women

O k i n a w a n W o m e n A c t A g a i n s t M i l i t a r y V i o l e n c eA M E R I C A P E A C E C A R A V A N

A P P E A L

W e d e m a n d t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f a l l p a s tc r i m e s c o m m i t t e d b y U. S. m i l i t a r y p e r s o n n e li n O k i n a w a , e s p e c i a l l y ' t h o s e c r i m e s t h a tc o n s t i t u t e h u m a n r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s a g a i n s tw o m e n a n d g i r l s ;

W e d e m a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a c o n c r e t ep l a n f o r t h e r e d u c t i o n a n d u l t i m a t e r e m o v a lo f a l l U. S m i l i t a r y p e r s o n n e l f r o m O k i n a w a ,e s p e c i a l l y U . S . M a r i n e p e r s o n n e l ;

W e d e m a n d t h a t t h e U. S. m i l i t a r y s t r e n g t h e ni t s o r i e n t a t i o n a n d c o n t i n u i n g e d u c a t i o np r o g r a m t o s e n s i t i z e a l l U. S. m i l i t a r yp e r s o n n e l s e n t o v e r s e a s a n d t h e i r d e p e n d e n t st o r e s p e c t a n d u p h o l d t h e b a s i c h u m a n r i g h t so f t h e c i t i z e n s o f t h e c o u n t r y i n w h i c h t h e ya r e s t a t i o n e d , e s p e c i a l l y i t s w o m e n a n dc h i l d r e n ;

( S e e P l a t f o r m f o r A c t i o n , A r t i c l e 2 3 3 h )

W e d e m a n d t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t s o f J a p a n a n dt h e U n i t e d S t a t e s :

1) i m p l e m e n t t h e P l a t f o r m f o r A c t i o n a p p r o v e da t t h e U N F o u r t h W o r l d C o n f e r e n c e o nW o m e n ,

2 ) r e v i s e t h e S t a t u s o f F o r c e s A g r e e m e n t , a n d

3 ) r e — e x a m i n e t h e J a p a n — U . S. S e c u r i t y T r e a t y ,

t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e s e t w o d o c u m e n t s a r ea c c o r d w i t h t h e P l a t f o r m f o r A c t i o n ;

I n

W e d e m a n d t h a t e x p e r t s o n s u c h i s s u e s a s t h ev i o l a t i o n o f w o m e n ' s h u m a n r i g h t s a n d t h ed e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t b e d i s p a t c h e dt o O k i n a w a t o i n v e s t i g a t e a n d e v a l u a t e t h ea c t u a l s i t u a t i o n e x i s t i n g t o d a y .

H A INT J\(FLOWER)

Lyrics & score by Shokichi Kina

KAWA WA NAGARETE, DOKO, DOKO IKU NO (Where, where is the river flowing?)HITO WA NAGARETE, DOKO, DOKO IKUNO? (Where, where are the people going?)SONNA NAGARE GA TSUKUGORO NI WA (At the time that the river and the people reach the end,)HANA TOSHITE, HANA TOSHITE, SAKASETE AGETAI. (May they blossom as the flowers.)NAKINASAI, (Cry to your heart's content,)WARAINASAI, (Laugh to your heart's content,)ITSU NO HI KA, ITSU NO HI KA (Someday, someday,)HANA 0 SAKASOYO. (Let us make the flowers bloom!)

NAMIDA NAGARETE, DOKO, DOKO IKUNOAI MO NAGARETE, DOKO, DOKO IKUNOSONNA NAGARE 0 KONO UCHI NINAKINASAI,WARAINASAI,ITSU NO HI KA, ITSU NO HI KAHANA 0 SAKASOYO.

HANA WA HANA TOSHITE WARAI MO DEKIRUHITO WA HITO TOSHITE NAMIDA MO NAGASUSORE GA SHIZEN NO UTA NA NO SAKOKORO NO NAKA NI, KOKORO NO NAKA NIHANA 0 SAKASOYONAKINASAI,WARAINASAI,ITSU, ITSU MADEMO. ITSU, ITSU MADEMO

HANA 0 TSUKAMOYO.

(Where, where have the tears all gone?)(Where, where has the love all gone?)(May they become one with the flowers.)(Cry to your heart's content,)(Laugh to your heart's content,)(Someday, someday,)(Let us make the flowers bloom!)

(Flowers can laugh as only flowers do,)(People can shed tears as only people do,)

(This is the natural song,)(In our hearts, in our hearts,)(Let us make the flowers bloom,)(Cry to your heart's content,)(Laugh to your heart's content,)(Let us always make the flowers bloom,)(Let us always make the flowers bloom!)(Let us hold fast to the flowers!)