Prefectural Assembly unanimously adopts resolution on woman’s murder by U.S. Navy sailor
April 26, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
On the morning of April 26, the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly (chaired by Yonekichi Shinzato) opened an extraordinary session and unanimously adopted a resolution and written statement protesting the murder of a Japanese woman in Chatan Town by a U.S. Navy sailor assigned to a Marine Corps unit in Okinawa.
The resolution and statement address incidents and accidents due to the presence of U.S. bases, including those caused by known deserters and drunk driving.
The resolution made three requests to the U.S. and Japanese governments: (1) apologize again to the prefectural people and make complete reparations to the bereaved family, (2) take drastic measures to prevent recurrence, and (3) make drastic revisions to the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement and perform a large-scale consolidation and reduction of U.S. bases.
It also criticizes the U.S. military for loosening the Liberty policy, which regulates the activities of U.S. military personnel such as nighttime outings and drinking off-base, and is holding the U.S. liable for permitting the Navy sailor to go off-base despite a woman he victimized having a restraining order out against him.
Touching on the 2016 incident in which a woman was raped and killed by a civilian in military employ, the resolution points out, “Repeated atrocities have caused Okinawans great distress and shock.”
This protest resolution has been sent to the U.S. Ambassador to Japan and the Commander of the U.S. Forces, Japan, among others.
Additionally, the written statement has been sent to the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defense, and others.
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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