Group condemns dismissal of rape charges vs US soldier in Okinawa

YEHEY! Contributors
3 March 2009 | 10:30 AM

Members of the women's group Gabriela stormed the US Embassy yesterday to condemn the US Army for dismissing the rape charges against Army Spec. Ronald Hopstock who was accused of raping a Filipina in Okinawa, Japan.

Hazel, not her real name, was allegedly raped by Hopstock Jr. of 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment in a hotel in Okinawa, Feb. 18, 2008.

On February 24, US Army Judge Colonel Donna Wright of the US court martial dismissed for “lack of sufficient evidence” the rape charges against Hopstock.

Joms Salvador, Gabriela spokesperson, said, “That the United States government is handling with kid's gloves the offenses committed by its soldiers encourages its armed forces to abuse and violate women. They did it with Daniel Smith; they've done it again with Hopstock.”

Smith, a participant to the Balikatan military exercises in 2005, was convicted of raping a Filipino known only as “Nicole.” Smith was detained shortly at the Makati City Jail but was later transferred to the US Embassy compound in Manila.

Despite the recent Supreme Court decision stating that Philippine authorities must have jurisdiction over Smith, the convicted US soldier remains with the US custody.

Gabriela said that the rape charge filed against Hopstock is among the 70 major crimes listed for the year 2008, which implicates US military personnel covered by the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement.

“US servicemen violate with impunity the rights of people in countries where they are stationed. They deem themselves above reproach just because they are soldiers of the most powerful country in the world,” Salvador said.

Salvador added, “While women like 'Hazel' and 'Nicole' cry out for justice, US soldiers who have violated them either go scot free or sit comfortably in the US embassy... [This] is severely disgusting and enraging.”

The group reiterated their call to end the presence of US military troops in the Asia-Pacific region, stressing that women are always vulnerable to violence and abuse wherever US soldiers are present. They also called for the immediate abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Gabriela announced that thousands of women are expected to join their protest action marking the International Women's Day on March 8.