[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 20, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E761-E762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SUPPORTING U.S. NAVY LT. RIDGE ALKONIS AND U.S./JAPAN RELATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. AUMUA AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 20, 2022

  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of U.S. Navy 
Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis, a sailor currently stationed abroad in Japan. 
Essential to the economic and political stability of the Pacific region 
around my home of American-Samoa is the U.S.-Japan alliance. As a 
significant part of this alliance, the U.S.Navy and Japanese Maritime 
Self-defense Force jointly project power and security throughout the 
Pacific; and, enabling this naval partnership are the 19,000 American 
sailors stationed there. While the U.S. and Japanese naval forces have 
long maintained a strong bond, the relationship is deteriorating as a 
result of Japanese injustices against U.S. military members. The case 
of U.S. Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis, who is of Samoan descent, 
exemplifies the disparate treatment American sailors receive in Japan. 
While driving his wife and three children to get ice cream during a 
family outing one Saturday in May 2021, LT. Alkonis suffered a sudden 
and unforeseen medical emergency which resulted in a tragic car 
accident, causing the

[[Page E762]]

death of two Japanese citizens. When I became aware of this tragedy 
last year, I immediately conveyed my condolences to Ambassador Tomita 
and continue to pray for the family of those who passed away. At the 
scene of the accident, LT. Alkonis was immediately arrested by Japanese 
authorities without receiving any medical care and imprisoned in 
solitary confinement for 26 days. He was systematically deprived of 
sleep, denied legal counsel while undergoing harsh daily interrogations 
by Japanese authorities, and pressured to sign false accusations. 
Financial compensation plays an influential role in the Japanese 
justice system, with Japanese citizens possessing considerable leverage 
over foreigners in court. LT. Alkonis was advised into signing a $1.65 
million financial settlement, the largest private financial settlement 
ever entered into by a U.S. service member in Japan. Despite there 
being no evidence of negligence on his part, LT. Alkonis cooperated 
fully in the investigation and paid the financial settlement in full; 
nevertheless, he was still sentenced to three years in prison. And last 
month, the Tokyo High Court rejected the majority of evidence submitted 
by LT. Alkonis including the Japanese police arrest warrant and a 
medical diagnosis by military physicians. The Court dismissed LT. 
Alkonis's appeal last week, even disregarding the financial 
settlement--an unprecedented decision by a Japanese court. Many 
familiar with these proceedings have called this situation the most 
egregious case against an American service member by Japan in over 60 
years. I'm deeply troubled by Japan's treatment of LT. Alkonis. A 
review of the facts clearly shows that LT. Alkonis did not fall asleep 
and was not negligent, that he did in fact suffer a medical emergency. 
While indeed a tragedy, this was an accident in every sense of the 
word. Additionally, there have been numerous Status of Forces Agreement 
violations and human rights abuses by Japan. I have even heard 
persuasive allegations of illicit domestic political interference in 
LT. Alkonis's court proceedings by the victims' family, which is 
strongly connected to the Tokyo High Court. The treatment of LT. 
Alkonis has been unacceptable and is hurting the U.S.-Japan alliance 
exactly when it needs to be strengthened. America cannot allow our 
brave sons and daughters to be so vulnerably exposed while serving 
abroad. I call on President Biden, as well as our Ambassador to Japan--
Ambassador Emanuel, to bring LT. Alkonis home and to immediately work 
with our Japanese partners to ensure that the terms of the Status of 
Forces Agreement are immediately reviewed and enforced at every level. 
Now more than ever, we need to acknowledge and correct injustices and 
take the appropriate steps to strengthen this alliance by ensuring 
service members are treated fairly.

                          ____________________