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“The Seatle Times”６月２３日付は、現役将校としてはじめてイラク従軍を拒否したエーレン・ワタダ中尉が２２日、イラク行きのためフォートルイスからの部隊の移動命令に従わず、と報じた。ワタダ中尉は正式にイラク派遣を拒否したことになる。
木曜日、フォートルイスの未明の闇のなか、中東に向かうためマッコード空軍基地へ移動する数百の兵の名前が読み上げられた。だが「エーレン・ワタダ」の呼名に対して返事はなかった。
その時まで指揮官らは様々にワタダ中尉を説得したようだが、中尉は頑として譲歩しなかった。
軍スポークスマンのジョー・ピークは「われわれはワタダ中尉のとった行動をきわめて深刻に受け止めている」と語った。
ワタダ中尉の代理人弁護士エリック・サイツ氏は「ワタダ中尉は具体的な罪状もあるいは適切な手続きもないまま、基地内にとどめられている」「ワタダ中尉に完全な報道禁止を布くことで、軍の第一番の関心事が、イラク戦争に反対するワタダ中尉の発言を沈黙させることにあることを示している。きわめていかがわしく不適切なこれら制限にわれわれは直ちに抗議する」と語った。
アメリカ中の平和グループが２７日（火）にワタダ中尉を支援して「抗議と徹夜」の日を計画している。
“The Seatle Times”の原文は次のとおり。
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=watada23&date=20060623&query=Watada
War-protesting Fort Lewis officer doesn't deploy with unit（The Seatle Times）
By Alex Fryer
Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada is believed to be the first officer to publicly refuse deployment to Iraq.
At Fort Lewis on Thursday, in the predawn blackness, several hundred soldiers stood with their duffel bags and weapons as a sergeant read the names of those expected to board buses for McCord Air Force Base and the long flight to the Middle East.
"Lt. Ehren Watada!" the sergeant yelled, but no one answered.
Watada, believed to be the first officer to refuse to go to Iraq, was inside a headquarters building, sticking to his belief that it was his moral duty not to deploy with the rest of the unit.
Throughout the morning, various commanders tried to talk to Watada, tell him it wasn't too late to grab his stuff and join the others. But when the plane took off at around 10 a.m., there was no going back. And Watada didn't budge.
"This is now a case of military justice," said Joe Piek, an Army spokesman.
"We're taking what Lt. Watada has done very seriously."
Watada, 28, who joined the military in 2003, was trained as a field artillery officer, helping orchestrate airstrikes and artillery barrages. That job will now be filled by another officer, though a replacement may be requested later, Piek said.
No charges will be filed against Watada until his commander, Lt. Col. Bruce Antonia of the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, has a chance to review the case and consult with Army lawyers.
Meanwhile, Watada has been ordered to remain on duty and not leave Fort Lewis.
"Lt. Watada has been restricted to base without any actual charges or proper process," said his attorney, Eric Seitz.
"By placing a complete gag order on Lt. Watada, the military has again shown that their first concern is silencing Lt. Watada's speech in opposition to the illegal war in Iraq. We will immediately challenge these highly questionable and improper restrictions."
Watada is considered to be the first officer to publicly refuse deployment to Iraq.
While other soldiers scheduled to go to Iraq have been absent without leave, Watada was the first to refuse to deploy while on base, Piek said.
More than 50,000 active-duty troops, reservists and National Guard soldiers have been processed through Fort Lewis since Sept. 11, 2001.
Born and raised in Honolulu, Watada enlisted in the Army and was obligated to serve on active duty as an Army officer for three years ending on Dec. 3, 2006.
In January, Watada asked to resign his commission because, he stated: "I am wholeheartedly opposed to the continued war in Iraq, the deception used to wage this war, and the lawlessness that has pervaded every aspect of our civilian leadership."
Peace groups around the nation plan a day of protests and vigils in support of Watada on Tuesday.
At Fort Lewis, Watada is not the source of much conversation, Piek said.
Instead, the base is focused on saying goodbye to the 4,000 troops who will leave home for a yearlong deployment.
"Lt. Watada is one soldier," Piek said. "Across Fort Lewis, this is not something that is paid a great deal of attention to."
【関連投稿】
反戦の声あげよう / イラク従軍拒否米兵 支援集会 / 米加国境の都市（しんぶん赤旗）
http://www.asyura2.com/0601/war81/msg/315.html
投稿者 gataro 日時 2006 年 6 月 18 日 10:10:50
【速報】初のイラク派遣命令拒否の将校がでた!!!【イラク情勢ニュース 】
http://www.asyura2.com/0601/war81/msg/126.html
投稿者 Ｄ・Ｋ 日時 2006 年 6 月 08 日 00:39:08
Re: 【速報】初のイラク派遣命令拒否の将校がでた!!!【aljazeela 】-名前等も発表されていた
http://www.asyura2.com/0601/war81/msg/140.html
投稿者 こげぱん 日時 2006 年 6 月 09 日 01:40:35
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