TOKYO: A protest was held outside the gate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday evening against “sexual violence by the US military and the withholding of information on the pretext of national security and protecting the privacy of victims.”

The protesters were spurred to action by reports of rapes by members of the US military. Japan’s Foreign Ministry did not initially inform the Ministry of Defense or the Okinawa government where the incidents occurred.

A US Marine was arrested in May on suspicion of attempted rape and a US Air Force serviceman was indicted in March for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor in December.

The police, prosecutors and the Foreign Ministry all withheld the information based on “privacy and other matters,” prompting accusations of a coverup by activists.

With a massive US military presence on the island prefecture, Okinawa has borne the brunt of crimes by US military personnel, protesters said.  Many residents and politicians to demand an end to hosting US forces in the region.

The protesters say it is acceptable to share information with local governments while still protecting the privacy of the victims and claim the failure to do so was a political coverup –the information was released after local elections – and an attempt to hide the sexual violence of US military personnel.