Japan - Jenkins surrenders to U.S. military at Camp Zama

http://home.kyodo.co.jp/all/display.jsp?an=20040911067 ^ | September 10, 2004 | Kakumi Kobayashi

[HAL9000]

ZAMA, Sept. 11, Kyodo - (EDS: RECASTING 3RD, 4TH GRAFS)

Accused U.S. Army deserter Charles Jenkins turned himself over Saturday to the U.S. military at a U.S. base near Tokyo to face charges filed in 1965, a big step toward resolving the U.S.-Japan diplomatic issue of what to do with the husband of a Japanese abductee repatriated from North Korea in 2002.

Jenkins, 64, is expected to soon begin legal procedures to avoid imprisonment by seeking a plea bargain for a dishonorable discharge. He is likely to provide the U.S. military with information such as the whereabouts of U.S. and South Korean soldiers who were abducted or who deserted to North Korea.

''Sir, I'm Sgt. Jenkins. I'm reporting,'' Jenkins told Lt. Col. Paul Nigara, U.S. Army Japan provost marshal, when he arrived at Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture from the Tokyo hospital where he had been staying since coming to Japan in July.

Nigara said, ''You're now under the control of the U.S. Army,'' while assuring Jenkins and his family would be treated ''with dignity and respect at all times.''

Jenkins was accompanied by his wife Hitomi Soga, who married him in North Korea two years after she was abducted in 1978, and their two North Korean-born daughters. They are expected to stay at Camp Zama for the time being.

''I want us four to go to Sado and live together as early as possible,'' Soga said as she and the children went to the hospital from a Tokyo hotel.

Soga has a house on Sado, a Sea of Japan island in Niigata Prefecture.

The U.S. Army says Jenkins, a native of Rich Square, North Carolina, crossed into North Korea from South Korea in 1965 while serving near the demilitarized zone. He is charged with deserting, aiding the enemy, encouraging disloyalty and soliciting other personnel to desert.

His relatives in the United States reject the allegations, saying he was abducted by North Korea.

The U.S. military is expected to hold a preliminary hearing on the case and decide whether Jenkins will face a court-martial, sources close to the matter said.

U.S. Forces Japan did not comment on how long the preliminary hearing is likely to last. It is widely believed, however, that it could take up to one month, according to Japanese government sources.

Jenkins has already met several times with his U.S. military-designated independent defense counsel, U.S. Army Capt. James Culp, at the hospital. They apparently discussed procedures for a plea bargain.

In a statement issued last week to announce his intention to voluntarily report to the U.S. military, Jenkins said he had intended to surrender from the day he arrived in Japan.

Also according to Japanese sources and a recent interview with the Far Eastern Economic Review, Jenkins said North Korea pressured him not to travel to Japan before he met with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Pyongyang in May and also to persuade Soga to return to North Korea during a family reunion in Jakarta in July.

Jenkins left North Korea with his daughters in July for the first time in 39 years and visited the Indonesian capital for the reunion. He was taken to the hospital directly from Tokyo's Haneda airport for medical treatment.

His departure from North Korea came amid diplomatic headaches involving Japan, North Korea and the United States.

The United States has adamantly maintained its intention to take legal action against Jenkins after his health improved. President George W. Bush was apparently reluctant to give special treatment to Jenkins amid ongoing fighting in Iraq and ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.

Japan has repeatedly asked the United States to pardon Jenkins. Koizumi, a close Bush ally in the Iraq war, wants to resolve the domestically sensitive abduction issue.

When Koizumi met with Jenkins in Pyongyang in May after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, Jenkins refused to go to Japan. At the summit, Kim had agreed to allow Jenkins and his daughters to leave North Korea as well as five children of four Japanese abductees repatriated in 2002.

Koizumi was able to bring only the five children to Japan at that time, while promising to arrange a family reunion for Jenkins and Soga in a third country.

[freeplancer]

The dude should rot in prison for a while, while his ex platoon mates pay him a visit and let him know how they feel.

[freeplancer]

The dude should rot in prison for a while why his ex platoon mates pay him a visit and let him know how they feel. They should also bring blankets.

[yonif]

Accused U.S. Deserter Jenkins Surrenders in Japan Fri Sep 10, 2004 10:47 PM ET

CAMP ZAMA, Japan (Reuters) - U.S. Army Sergeant Charles Robert Jenkins gave himself up on Saturday at an American army base in Japan to face charges that he deserted to communist North Korea four decades ago while on patrol in South Korea.

His surrender is a big step toward resolving a diplomatic headache for the United States and close ally Japan.

Wearing a suit and tie, the 64-year-old Jenkins gave a long salute as he was received by Lt. Colonel Paul Nigara at Camp Zama, the U.S. Army's headquarters in Japan west of the capital.

"Sir, I'm Sgt. Jenkins, and I'm reporting," he was quoted as saying by a U.S. army statement.

Unlike some accused deserters thought to be at risk of trying to flee, Jenkins was not put into handcuffs or leg irons, partly out of sensitivity to sympathy in Japan for his Japanese wife, Hitomi Soga.

"I can assure you that you and your family will be treated with dignity and respect at all times," said Nigara, Provost Marshal for U.S. Army Japan.

Jenkins met Soga in North Korea after she was kidnapped by its agents in 1978 to help teach spies to speak Japanese. The couple have two North Korean-born daughters, aged 21 and 19.

"I hope we four can go to Sado Island and live together as soon as possible," Soga told reporters early on Saturday, referring to the small north Japanese island that is her home.

Soga, almost 20 years Jenkins' junior, was allowed to return to Japan two years ago with four other abductees, but had to leave her family behind.

Jenkins arrived in Tokyo for medical care in July after Japan arranged for the family to be reunited in Jakarta.

Since then, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has had to balance the U.S. desire to see Jenkins face court martial with Japanese public sympathy for his wife.

Washington says Jenkins, a native of Rich Square, North Carolina, slipped into North Korea one cold January night in 1965 while leading a patrol near the Demilitarised Zone separating the two Koreas and later joined Pyongyang's propaganda machine.

Jenkins, who lied about his age to enlist at 15, said in a recent interview with the Far Eastern Economic Review that he wanted to turn himself in to "clear my conscience."

Jenkins, who is charged with desertion, aiding the enemy, encouraging disloyalty and soliciting other service members to desert, has several legal options.

Speculation has focused on a possible pre-trial deal in which he would plead guilty to one or more charges but offer to tell the U.S. military what he knows about North Korea in exchange for a punishment lighter than the maximum of life in prison.

President Bush is said to be reluctant to give Jenkins special treatment while American troops are fighting in Iraq and ahead of November's presidential election.

But Koizumi, who backed the U.S.-led war in Iraq and sent non-combat troops there in the face of public hostility, wants Soga and her family to be able to live together in her homeland.

Jenkins will be supplied with whatever he needs to resume active duty, including a haircut and a uniform.

His family will be treated like other soldiers' dependants and are expected to be housed on the military base.

Known as "Super" to his family, the jug-eared Jenkins left school early and washed cars at a Ford dealership before lying about his age to enlist in the National Guard when he was 15.

He later joined the army.

Soga was one of five Japanese abductees who returned to Japan in 2002 after more than a quarter of a century in reclusive North Korea. Her poise and a penchant for poetic expressions have won the hearts of many Japanese.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6209123

[Southack]

Test him for bio-toxins.

1 Full Legislative Day Left Until The AWB Expires

[yonif]

I would love to read about his reasons for deserting to the North, his thinking about it and the time-line of events of him deserting and then being 'welcomed' by the North Koreans.

[USNBandit]

This is a pretty pathetic individual. While I am sure a lot of people want him executed, he is more useful to us alive. A plea deal which requires his cooperation with intel officials of both Japan and the U.S., yank his citizenship, and leave him to live in Japan is probably the best thing to do. The U.S. will get a lot more benefit if he is free to live in Japan and talk to the numerous media outlets that will want to interview him.

Part of the reason I feel this way is that his wife has been made a victim by the N. Koreans who kidnapped her from her home. She should catch a break now that she is free again.

[USNBandit]

Look at his picture. That guy is only 64? He looks 85.

[coconutt2000]

Strip him of his citizenship, then send him to Canada where he can be a burden on their health care system.

[hershey]

Whatever else went wrong here, Jenkins was very young indeed when he enlisted and made a bad decision or two along the way. Not a budding Einstein, that's for sure.

[Alia]

Some very interesting old non-closed cases could be coming to light. I'm very interested in learning what all he has learned in his years of being away.

[USNBandit]

I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty.

[Styria]

He's standing up straight.

[Bogey78O]

Dang, he's a short little guy.

[Ramius]

I dunno... interesting perhaps as a historical artifact, but yeesh, this guy is now just an old man. Let him come clean, come up with some symbolic punishment and be done with it. He chose to live in NK for forty years... self punishment was delivered. :-)

I don't really see the point of pushing this very hard.

[Chad Fairbanks]

''Sir, I'm Sgt. Jenkins. I'm reporting,''

Sounds suspiciously like something another traitor said recently...

[BlazingArizona]

Camp Zama was where I celebrated the nation's Bicentennial.

[sushiman]

Jenkins confused : thought he was in Nazi Germany !

[AmericanInTokyo]

A believe that was the beginning of his salute.

Wonder what Kim Jong il thinks of all of this, seeing as he had ordered Jenkins not to go back for good to the West, and if at all possible, get Soga and the two girls back with him to Pyongyang. Dishonorable discharge, yes. Possible revocation of US citizen, yes. And milk him for every possib bit of intel, yes. Sounds like a deal. I'd take it. Heck the guy is going to croak of pancreatic cancer in a year or two anyways, in addition to having lived in DPRK for nearly 40 friggin years. Traitor got his punishment.

[sushiman]

! A believe that was the beginning of his salute. "

It was an " American joke " ! ;)

I agree with you that we ought to pick whatever is left of his brain . Yass , living in NK for 40 years is punishment enough .