U.S. sacks diplomat over remarks, moves to calm furor in Okinawa
Mar. 11, 2011
The United States sacked a senior diplomat handling Japanese affairs and offered an apology Thursday over his reported disparaging remarks about the people of Okinawa in an effort to assuage anger in the prefecture that plays a crucial role in the bilateral security alliance.
In a swift attempt to ease the uproar, especially in Okinawa that hosts the bulk of U.S. forces in Japan, Washington replaced Kevin Maher as head of the Office of Japanese Affairs at the State Department.
Effective Thursday, his successor is Rust Deming, a former deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. Deming served in the 1990s as head of the department's Japan desk and principal deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.
Welcoming the U.S. action as ''appropriate,'' Prime Minister Naoto Kan told reporters he hopes both countries will ''work together to prevent'' the incident from affecting negotiations on the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the prefecture.
Judging from remarks by locals, the outrage over Maher's reported comments is unlikely to ease soon and could even stall further talks on a bilateral plan on the relocation, which is fiercely opposed by people in Okinawa.
Maher allegedly described people in Okinawa as ''lazy'' and ''masters of manipulation and extortion'' in a briefing to American University students in December before their trip to Okinawa, according to notes taken by some of the students.
During a meeting with Japan's new Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto in Tokyo, Kurt Campbell, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, offered his personal and the U.S. government's ''deepest regret for the current controversy'' concerning Maher's remarks.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos, for his part, visited Okinawa Prefecture and apologized to Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima on behalf of the U.S. government.
''I want to just offer my deep apologies and regrets regarding the recent reports that have caused deep offense in Okinawa,'' the ambassador said during a meeting with the governor. ''The words reported are reprehensible and in no way represent the views or policies of the United States of America.''
Roos vowed that he and the U.S. government will redouble their efforts to rebuild the ''trust and respect that I know we have enjoyed over the years.''
In response, Nakaima called Maher's sacking ''a quick response'' but said it may take time for Okinawa and the United States to restore mutual confidence.
He told reporters after their meeting in Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, that the anger among the people of Okinawa ''will probably not abate easily.''
Okinawa has reacted angrily to the reported remarks, with assemblies of the prefecture and numerous municipalities adopting resolutions in protest. The Ginowan city assembly on Thursday became the latest to slam the comments.
Matsumoto said to reporters that he told Campbell the comments by Maher, if true, are ''regrettable and unacceptable'' as they ''hurt the feelings not only of the people of Okinawa but also those of all Japanese.''
On steps taken by the United States, Matsumoto said he thinks Washington has taken ''appropriate measures to minimize the damage to Japan-U.S. relations,'' while Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the measures met the Japanese government's expectations.
Campbell later told journalists that he and Roos had ''apologized deeply to all key players in the Japanese government,'' emphasizing that the United States is ''fully committed to ensuring the best possible relationship with Okinawa and its people.''
Hiroji Yamashiro, who heads the secretariat of a local group that organizes antibase and antiwar protests in the southern Japan prefecture, was among those who said the apology and sacking of Maher ''will not be enough.''
Toshio Takahashi, a plaintiff in a suit over noise pollution from the Futenma base, said Maher was known for his ''abusive language'' while serving as the U.S. consul general in Okinawa between 2006 and 2009, and that he doubts whether Maher correctly reported about the prefecture to Washington.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on March 10, 2011)
In a swift attempt to ease the uproar, especially in Okinawa that hosts the bulk of U.S. forces in Japan, Washington replaced Kevin Maher as head of the Office of Japanese Affairs at the State Department.
Effective Thursday, his successor is Rust Deming, a former deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. Deming served in the 1990s as head of the department's Japan desk and principal deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.
Welcoming the U.S. action as ''appropriate,'' Prime Minister Naoto Kan told reporters he hopes both countries will ''work together to prevent'' the incident from affecting negotiations on the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the prefecture.
Judging from remarks by locals, the outrage over Maher's reported comments is unlikely to ease soon and could even stall further talks on a bilateral plan on the relocation, which is fiercely opposed by people in Okinawa.
Maher allegedly described people in Okinawa as ''lazy'' and ''masters of manipulation and extortion'' in a briefing to American University students in December before their trip to Okinawa, according to notes taken by some of the students.
During a meeting with Japan's new Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto in Tokyo, Kurt Campbell, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, offered his personal and the U.S. government's ''deepest regret for the current controversy'' concerning Maher's remarks.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos, for his part, visited Okinawa Prefecture and apologized to Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima on behalf of the U.S. government.
''I want to just offer my deep apologies and regrets regarding the recent reports that have caused deep offense in Okinawa,'' the ambassador said during a meeting with the governor. ''The words reported are reprehensible and in no way represent the views or policies of the United States of America.''
Roos vowed that he and the U.S. government will redouble their efforts to rebuild the ''trust and respect that I know we have enjoyed over the years.''
In response, Nakaima called Maher's sacking ''a quick response'' but said it may take time for Okinawa and the United States to restore mutual confidence.
He told reporters after their meeting in Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, that the anger among the people of Okinawa ''will probably not abate easily.''
Okinawa has reacted angrily to the reported remarks, with assemblies of the prefecture and numerous municipalities adopting resolutions in protest. The Ginowan city assembly on Thursday became the latest to slam the comments.
Matsumoto said to reporters that he told Campbell the comments by Maher, if true, are ''regrettable and unacceptable'' as they ''hurt the feelings not only of the people of Okinawa but also those of all Japanese.''
On steps taken by the United States, Matsumoto said he thinks Washington has taken ''appropriate measures to minimize the damage to Japan-U.S. relations,'' while Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the measures met the Japanese government's expectations.
Campbell later told journalists that he and Roos had ''apologized deeply to all key players in the Japanese government,'' emphasizing that the United States is ''fully committed to ensuring the best possible relationship with Okinawa and its people.''
Hiroji Yamashiro, who heads the secretariat of a local group that organizes antibase and antiwar protests in the southern Japan prefecture, was among those who said the apology and sacking of Maher ''will not be enough.''
Toshio Takahashi, a plaintiff in a suit over noise pollution from the Futenma base, said Maher was known for his ''abusive language'' while serving as the U.S. consul general in Okinawa between 2006 and 2009, and that he doubts whether Maher correctly reported about the prefecture to Washington.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on March 10, 2011)
