[Maciamo]

Les Etats-Unis demandent au Japon que des agents gouvernementaux soient presents a chaque interrogation de militaires americains par la police japonaise.

A l'heure actuelle, personne exterieur a la police n'est admis pendant les interrogations au Japon.

Le Japon a indique pendant les negociations que la presents de "US officials" et d'un interprete serait admise sous certaines conditions, mais lorsque les Etats-Unis ont demande la presence d'un avocat, comme il est permis aux E-U, les negotiations se sont figees.

Le gouvernement japonais ne veut pas privilegier les soldats americains, surtout que ceux-ci sont deja mal-vus dans les regions ont ils sont presents. Les cas recents de viols par des GI a Okinawa ne rend pas la situation plus facile, et il ne sera pas facile de trouver un compromis.

U.S. wants presence at any police questioning of military personnel

Monday, November 24, 2003 at 10:58 JST
TOKYO — The United States asked Japan during talks in July and August to allow U.S. officials to be present in all interrogations of U.S. military personnel suspected of committing crimes in Japan, including those arrested at the crime scene, Japanese and U.S. government sources said Monday.

The talks on revising the criminal procedures for U.S. military personnel in Japan under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) collapsed in August without producing an agreement.

In Japan, the presence of lawyers or other officials is not permitted during police questioning.

Allowing U.S. officials to be present in interrogations of personnel arrested at the scene of crimes would effectively mean permitting U.S. presence in the questioning of all arrested U.S. military personnel.

The revelation of the stance by the U.S. is expected to draw controversy, especially in areas in Japan where U.S. bases are located.

The talks were held at the request of the U.S. in light of a case of rape resulting in injuries in May allegedly involving a U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa.

In the negotiations, Japan has indicated that under certain conditions it would allow U.S. officials to be present during the questioning of suspects or let the U.S. pick an interpreter.

However, Washington wanted lawyers be allowed to be present in the interrogations, as is permitted in the U.S., bringing the talks to a deadlock.

Analysts believe Washington took the stance due to its distrust in the Japanese police's closed-door interrogations and public opinion in the U.S. that sees not permitting the presence of lawyers during questioning of suspects as a violation of the rights of U.S. citizens.

Japan's law-enforcement authorities concerned, however, are reluctant to give the exception only to U.S. military personnel. With the need to consider Japanese public sentiment, a compromise is expected to be difficult and it is unclear when talks will resume.

SOFA governs the operations and management of U.S. forces in Japan. It does not require the U.S. to hand over U.S. military suspects alleged to have committed crimes until Japanese prosecutors indict them.

However, the rape of a 12-year-old Japanese girl by three U.S. servicemen in 1995 prompted the U.S. to agree to give "sympathetic consideration" to handovers of soldiers suspected of committing serious crimes of rape and murder. (Kyodo News)

_________________
Visitez Japan Reference

[remuka]

Même si ces interrogatoires à huis-clos sont très "limites" en matière de droits de l'homme (de même que la façon de récolter les aveux de la police japonaise - plusieurs plaintes d'ONG), pour une fois, je serais content que le Japon soit sévère. Les GI en poste au Japon sont censés respecter la juridiction japonaise, j'espère qu'aucune exception ne sera faite.

<HS>
Rapellons que les Américains n'autorisent toujours pas les prisonniers de Guantanamo à avoir un avocat non plus... Que "plus de 600 personnes, originaires de 42 pays différents, et soupçonnées d'être des combattants talibans ou d'Al-Qaïda, sont détenues au secret à Guantanamo, dans le non-respect des règles internationales, à la suite des attentats du 11 septembre 2001 aux Etats-Unis et de la guerre en Afghanistan." (AP.) Vous me direz qu'être spouçonné de viol et de complicité terroriste, ce n'est pas pareil...
( http://www.lesoir.be/articles/a_048F67.asp )
</HS>
_________________
Sucre. | Candyland.jp