Japan jails two U.S. sailors over rapeMarch 1, 2013 - 15:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Two U.S. sailors have been sentenced to prison for the rape of a Japanese woman in Okinawa, in a case that has generated strong anti-American feeling, BBC News reported. The Naha district court handed Christopher Browning 10 years in jail and Skyler Dozierwalker nine years. In his verdict, the judge said the men were "contemptible and violent". The incident in October 2012 exacerbated resentment of the U.S. military presence on the island and resulted in a curfew for U.S. troops. Browning, 24, and Dozierwalker, 23, had pleaded guilty. Prosecutors had initially asked for a 12-year sentence for Browning, who also stole money from the victim. "The ruling may seem severe, but the damage to the feelings of the victim and residents is more severe," Judge Hideyuki Suzuki was quoted by Kyodo news agency as saying. In the wake of the attack, Okinawa's legislature passed a protest resolution calling on the U.S. to prevent crimes against local residents. U.S. troops throughout Japan were placed under a night-time curfew, which was lifted for senior personnel and eased slightly for other personnel in February. The U.S. bases some 26,000 troops on Okinawa under the terms of a long-standing security alliance with Japan. But the gang-rape in 1995 of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. service personnel led to moves to reduce the US military footprint there, amid island-wide outrage. The U.S. says it is planning to relocate several thousand marines off Okinawa to Guam, but has linked their departure to progress on a new base in the north of the island - which many residents oppose. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. |