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TOKYO: The US military slapped a sweeping curfew
Wednesday on troops and their relatives on Japan’s southern island
of Okinawa after a series of incidents including an alleged rape
that sparked tension.
The indefinite curfew took effect
at 7:30 a.m. (2230 GMT Tuesday) in the wake of calls from Japanese
leaders for stricter discipline on the more than 40,000 US troops in
the country, half of whom are stationed in Okinawa.
Marine Corps Lieutenant General
Richard Zilmer, the top US commander in Okinawa, has ordered all
members of the military and their families to stay on their bases or
off-base residences until further notice.
“Active-duty service members on
Okinawa will be limited to their place of duty or employment,
worship, education or medical or dental treatment” as they enter a
“period of reflection,” a military statement said.
It will “allow commanders and
all service members an opportunity to further review procedures and
orders that govern the discipline and conduct of all US service
members serving in Okinawa,” it said.
While the US military has imposed
night curfews on troops before, it is rare for restrictions to be in
place around the clock and to include families. A US military
spokesman said it was unclear when such drastic action was last
taken.
“The US military and its
commanders take very seriously all incidents and allegations
involving misconduct by service members,” the military statement
added.
The US troops are based in Japan
under a security treaty to protect Washington’s key Asian ally,
which has been officially pacifist since World War II.
In another bid to calm public
anger, the US military said it would hold a “day of reflection”
for all forces across Japan on Friday.
The Japanese government welcomed
the move, saying in a statement it “appreciates the US
military’s decision to take strict measures in the wake of a
string of incidents by US servicemen.”
“We will hold close
consultations between Japan and the United States so that the US
side will devise appropriate longer-term measures to prevent a
recurrence,” it added.
A US Marine was arrested last
week on allegations that he raped a 14-year-old girl in Okinawa,
home to half of the US troops in Japan, leading Japanese leaders to
demand tighter discipline for troops. The Marine admitted trying to
forcibly kiss the girl but denied raping her.
Thomas Schieffer, the US
ambassador to Japan, quickly flew to Okinawa to offer a personal
apology for the incident and pledged new training for troops. But
within days, Okinawa police arrested two more Marines, with one
allegedly driving while drunk and the other accused of stumbling
into a stranger’s house and passing out intoxicated.
--AFP
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