Court Martial Rape Case vs US Soldier Dismissed

Published on February 28, 2009

The US Court Martial recently dismissed the rape charges against an American soldier stationed in Okinawa, Japan who was accused of raping a Filipina migrant worker.

BY BULATLAT

The US Court Martial recently dismissed the rape charges against an American soldier stationed in Okinawa, Japan who was accused of raping a Filipina migrant worker.

On February 24, US Army Judge Colonel Donna Wright dismissed for “lack of sufficient evidence” the rape charges against Army Spec. Ronald Hopstock, who was accused of raping “Hazel,” a 22-year old Filipina migrant worker.

Hazel was raped three days after arriving in Okinawa, Japan in February last year. She filed a case against Hopstock at the Naha District Public Prosecutor’s Office but was later dismissed.

Gabriela revealed that the Philippine consulate in Okinawa did not provide Hazel with a lawyer during the hearing of the case.

In a statement, Gabriela said, “We are enraged at the US government for dismissing the charges against Hopstock for the rape of `Hazel’. This only affirms that the United States is a government that coddles its rapist soldiers.”

Joms Salvador, Gabriela spokesperson, said, “The decision on Hazel’s case only shows how there can be no justice for Filipinos violated by the armed troops of the US government. No justice was ever served to thousands of Filipinos victimized by the criminal acts of US soldiers during the bases era; There is no justice even now, as with the case of rapist L/Cpl. Daniel Smith, whom the US government continues to take under custody with the full backing of the Philippine Executive.”

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

Recently, the Supreme Court said that the Philippine government must take jurisdiction over Smith. Malacanang, however, said that Smith must remain at the US Embassy pending the appeal on his conviction.

“Any self-respecting government would, at this point, be affronted by the US government’s impertinence. But the Arroyo government, lacking in respect for our country’s sovereignty as it is, does not even want to fight back and reclaim our nation’s dignity,” said Salvador.

Salvador stressed that this development should compel the Philippine Senate to hasten its action in passing a resolution for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

The women’s group said that they will hold a protest action in front of the US Embassy on, March 2. On March 8, International Women’s Day, the group said that 10,000 protesters are expected to join the women’s mobilization calling for the scrapping of the VFA.(Bulatlat.com)