Rape suspect gets break from Japanese food

Okinawa residents frequently protest at the presence of the U.S. military

By Rebecca MacKinnon
CNN Tokyo Bureau Chief

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- For the first time since his arrest by Okinawa police on July 6, rape suspect U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Timothy Woodland has been served a Western meal.

According to his lawyer, Tsuyoshi Arakaki, he had been eating only Japanese since his arrest, and police have agreed to grant his request for Western food.

Arakaki told CNN that Woodland -- accused of raping an Okinawa woman in a parking lot in the early hours of June 29 -- submitted a formal request for release on bail Wednesday afternoon.

Araki said a decision by the Naha District Court was expected on Thursday or Friday.

On Monday the court granted an extension of Woodland's detention until July 23 to give prosecutors more time to build their case.

If they cannot file charges by that date, Woodland must be released. Woodland insists that although he had sex with the woman, it was consensual and he did not rape her.

Other than Woodland's lack of enthusiasm for three Japanese meals a day, Arakaki said "there have been no problems with his treatment" at the Naha Detention Center in Okinawa.

U.S. concerns about Japanese police practices, and whether Woodland's rights would be fully protected, caused a four-day delay in his hand-over to local authorities.

According to the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement, the U.S. side can "favorably consider", but is not obligated to hand over a suspect before indictment in the case of crimes like rape and murder.

Japanese politicians -- from the Foreign Minister down to local Okinawa assembly members -- complained that Woodland's handover did not come quickly enough.

They argue this was a sign of disrespect to the citizens of Okinawa. Their island is host to more than 25,000 U.S. troops.

Members of Japan's House of Representatives have recently called for a "radical review" of the U.S. Japan Status of Forces agreement, to prevent future delays in the handover of U.S. service people suspected of rape or murder.

Prime Minister Koizumi has taken a more moderate tone. Last week he said the two allies should first explore ways to make the existing pact work better.

But while Tokyo found the handover frustratingly slow, Washington thought it was speedy.

"To me it seemed fast," said the newly arrived U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Howard Baker. Baker arrived in Tokyo to take up his post the day after Woodland's arrest warrant was issued.

Washington "not only acted responsibly," he said, "but in a way that maximized the assurances that a U.S. citizen be treated humanely."

But he did admit the midweek Fourth of July holiday in Washington could have slowed things down.