Dear People of the World (formerly Dear Americans)

Here I post my letter to the young US Marine serviceman who destoryed the message banner at USMC Camp Schwab in Henoko, Nago city, Okinawa prefecture. 

This is the message I and other activists created and placed since last fall. 

It was placed facing the entry gate to the camp for the protest activity. 

But last April the banner was destroyed and taken away. 

It was a crime act. But I decided not to file the damage report to police this time as mentioned in following letter texts. 

I handed the letter over to the police to give it to the serviceman. 

Some of the texts are altered in order not to disclose the offender's identity.  The incident and the letter were reported to the local news media as well as some of national news outlets. 

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Dear Sir,

I am Masagata, one of the contributors of creation and setting up the banner you destroyed and took away from where it was picketed near the Camp Schwab gate. I live in Tokyo but sometimes stay in Okinawa to join the protest against the construction of planned runways. I am much older than you like your father. When I was your age, I lived in the US as a college student.

 

I heard the reason that you destroyed the banner from the police. You were incited by the word “RAPE” on the banner because your closest person was a rape victim. I am saddened to hear that. I sympathized with you. Therefore, this time I will not file a damage report to the police nor demand the compensation for the damage.  

 

But remember what you did was illegal. Some might say our setting up the banner in that place is unlawful as well but that is considered to be an act of freedom of expression ensured by the Japanese constitution like the first amendment of your country’s constitution.

 

“RAPE” in that banner does not only mean physical rape incidents committed by the US servicemembers in Okinawa but destruction of the environment of the island caused by the ongoing construction at your serving place. For details, please read my letter to the US government.

Instead of charging you with a crime, I ask you to escalate our message as protestors to your supervisors and your neighbors so that more people will know the pain locals are feeling.

I will post this letter on my blogsite to let the world know what’s going on in Okinawa without mentioning your name.

I heard you are leaving Okinawa soon. I wish you best luck in your future.

 

Best regards,