US troops in Okinawa were ordered to stay on base and not drink alcohol for 48 hours from Wednesday noon, after a Marine was arrested over the alleged killing of a local woman.
The US military in Okinawa said all US troops in the prefecture would observe a 48-hour operational pause from noon on Wednesday, Jiji Press reported from Naha. Personnel were barred from leaving bases and from drinking alcohol on or off base. A curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. was set for the following 30 days, with tighter checks at base gates.
The pause follows the arrest on Sunday of a Marine over the alleged killing of a local woman. UPI, citing police allegations, named the arrested service member as Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, and said he is accused of strangling 39-year-old Anna Yagi at a hotel in Naha between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Saturday and of taking her wallet and other belongings. Those details are police allegations, not a court finding.
Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson, head of US forces in Okinawa, said serving on the island came with responsibility and that every interaction with neighbours either built or undermined trust essential to the alliance. UPI said he told personnel that individual conduct had consequences and that the pause would include training on standards and discipline.
UPI reported a rally in Tokyo on Monday and growing public anger since the arrest. The item is the military restriction and the arrest allegations. No charge sheet or trial date was in the reports used here.
The pause was due to run until Friday. The 30-day curfew was the next restriction named in the military statement.
People Sentiments Negative
- Benjamin Watson said individual conduct had consequences for the alliance.
- He said every interaction with neighbours either builds or undermines trust.
- UPI reported growing public anger and a Monday rally in Tokyo.