“Obviously reporting,” Naha mayor criticizes solider pointing gun at Shimpo journalist

“Obviously reporting,” Naha mayor criticizes solider pointing gun at Shimpo journalist

Naha City Mayor Mikiko Shiroma taking questions from reporters during a regular press conference at Naha City Hall on April 6, 2022.


April 7, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Sanenori Kinjo

 

 

During a regular press conference held on April 6, Naha City Mayor Mikiko Shiroma spoke on the incident in which a U.S. soldier pointed a gun at a Ryukyu Shimpo reporter positioned outside the base’s fence line at the Naha Port Facility during a drill. The mayor stated, “It is an infuriating act that should never have happened.”

 

The U.S. Army on Okinawa denies the soldier intentionally pointed his gun at the reporter. Mayor Shiroma responded, “If you look at the [Ryukyu Shimpo] photo, [the solider] is clearly making eye contact with the reporter. The journalist was holding a camera; it must’ve been obvious he was reporting.” She asserted, “you cannot argue that pointing a gun at unarmed civilians positioned outside the base’s fence lines is part of the drill.” The mayor said of the military exercises at the port: “I have repeatedly conveyed to the Defense Bureau that these exercises are not in line with the 5-15 Memorandum (which stipulates the primary use of Naha Military Port) but without progress. We will continue to demand that the training be strictly controlled.”

 

(English translation by T&CT and Monica Shingaki)

 

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