US Forces Japan said personnel on Okinawa will face a midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew for a month from Friday and a 48-hour operational pause from noon Wednesday after a Marine's arrest.
The US military on Okinawa will impose a curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. for a month starting Friday after the arrest of a Marine on suspicion of robbing and murdering a local woman, Kyodo News reported from Naha.
Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson, Okinawa area coordinator of US Forces Japan, said all US military personnel on the island will also observe a 48-hour operational pause from noon Wednesday. During the pause there will be no off-base liberty and alcohol will be banned on and off base, he said.
The Japan Times also reported the pause and the 30-day period, which the command called a Period of Reflection. Kyodo did not publish the suspect's name or the date of the alleged killing in its Wednesday digest.
The measures follow the arrest, not a court finding. Kyodo described the case as a suspicion of robbery and murder.
Watson's statement is the operational response announced on Tuesday and taking effect Wednesday and Friday. Kyodo did not quote a Japanese government reaction in the digest item.