Supporting U.S. Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis and U.S./Japan Relations
Floor Speech
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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 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.
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