Mori visits site of sunken trawler

Mori (R) says the U.S. will do everything in its power to raise the trawler and compensate victims

In this story: Anger lingers over tragedy Surprise testimony Bush: a 'regrettable' accident RELATED STORIES, SITES

Honolulu, HAWAII -- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori is heading back to Japan after a visit to the United States which included a stop in Hawaii.

Mori attended a solemn ceremony off the coast of Hawaii, where relatives cast flowers at the site where nine died after a U.S. submarine collided with and sank a Japanese trawler last month.

The Japanese premier also met the victim's families who are following the U.S. Navy's Court of Inquiry into the collision in Honolulu.

Mori's gesture serves as some sort of penance after he was heavily criticized for continuing a game of golf after learning of the February 9 accident.

Mori stood solemn and silent as four relatives of the nine dead cast traditional Hawaiian floral offerings, or Ho'okutu, of orchids and carnations wrapped in leaves onto the choppy waters above the ocean grave of the trawler, the Ehime Maru.

The nine who were lost, including four high school students, are believed entombed in the sunken trawler.

"Today I traveled myself to the site of the Ehime Maru accident to where the Ehime Maru lies sunken," Mori said.

"Seeing the unbelievably beautiful and calm cobalt sea where just a while ago the tragic accident occurred caused me to feel in my heart the tragedy, the suffering and sorrow of the families of those who were lost," he said.

Anger lingers over tragedy

The 500-ton Ehime Maru, carrying 35 people including 13 students from the Uwajima Marine and Fisheries High School in southern Japan, was on a training voyage when the 6,900 ton USS Greeneville surfaced suddenly, crashing into it and sinking it within minutes.

Waddle says he is 'accountable and responsible' for the sinking of the Japanese ship

Japanese perplexity was replaced by anger as details emerged, including word that 16 civilian VIPs were on board -- three at the controls -- when the accident occurred.

Many Japanese were outraged at the initial failure of the captain of the Greeneville to apologize, despite the series of apologies offered by Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell, U.S. Ambassador Thomas Foley and the Navy's number two officer Adm. William J. Fallon, sent to Tokyo as a special envoy.

Apologies play an important role in Japanese culture, where they are often seen not as an admission of legal guilt or personal responsibility, but rather of a more diffuse sense of shame.

Surprise testimony

Commander Scott Waddle, one of three officers facing a U.S. Navy court of inquiry at Pearl Harbor, apologized to family members in emotional meetings this month and again on March 16.

He unexpectedly took the witness stand at the court of inquiry Tuesday without immunity from prosecution, and immediately took the blame for the collision.

"I am fully responsible for this truly tragic accident and for the rest of my life I will live with the horrible consequences of my action," he said.

Waddle, 41, testified after the court advised him that he could be subjected to charges of dereliction of duty, improper hazarding of a vessel and negligent homicide.

"I have decided to testify, subject to cross-examination," he said. "I took an awesome responsibility when I became commander of the Greeneville. I have no less of a responsibility to stand up and explain the exercise of my judgment... and I intend to do so.

"This court and the families (of the victims) need to hear from me," he said.

Bush: a 'regrettable' accident

Mori said Bush had confirmed that the U.S. side would do everything possible to complete the inquiry, to raise the trawler and to provide compensation.

During their summit Monday, the leaders stressed that their alliance was firm despite strains due to the sinking of the trawler and a series of crimes involving U.S. military in Japan.

Bush, who has already apologized for the accident, again told Mori it was "regrettable."

The Navy has said that it would cost $40 million and take six months to raise the vessel from its depth of 2,000 feet, and would involve a complex and precedent-setting operation.

Repairing the U.S.-Japan ties strained by the Ehime Maru disaster was a key goal of Mori's summit with Bush.

"They noted that the U.S.-Japan alliance is the foundation of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region," said a joint statement issued by the two governments after Bush and Mori met.

The desire of ruling coalition to ditch Mori ahead of a July Upper House election mounted until on March 10 he agreed to bring forward a ruling party presidential election to replace him, setting the stage to step down.

That Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election is now expected around April 20 and a new cabinet could be formed by the end of the month.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Sub skipper grilled about crew and civilians
March 20, 2001

U.S. Coast Guard
City of Uwajima's memorial site
U.S. Navy

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