US Navy bans alcohol on Okinawa

An officer arrested for drunk-driving triggers new criticism, base restrictions

The US Navy banned drinking and restricted off-base activity on Monday for its personnel in Japan after a sailor was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving on the island of Okinawa in the latest incident where suspected criminal activity has sparked public anger.

Crimes by US military personnel, especially on Okinawa where the public is fighting to get rid of US bases, are often pointed to as reasons why the US soldiers should go.

In the latest incident, Petty Officer 2nd Class Aimee Mejia, 21, assigned to Kadena base in Okinawa, was arrested Sunday after driving the wrong way on a freeway and smashing head-on into two vehicles, said police spokesman Takashi Shirado. Mejia was not hurt, but two people in the other cars were slightly injured, he said.

'Responsible behavior'

Under Monday's order, US Navy personnel will not be allowed to drink at all, off or on base, and cannot freely leave the base grounds, except for commuting from an off-base home to work, or for necessary errands such as picking up children or groceries.

The order will remain until training is carried out and the military feels comfortable everyone understands "responsible behavior", a Navy statement said.

"These measures are not taken lightly," said Rear Admiral Matthew Carter. "For decades, we have enjoyed a strong relationship with the people of Japan. It is imperative that each sailor understand how our actions affect that relationship, and the US-Japan alliance as a whole."

Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga expressed anger about the recurring misbehavior of US soldiers, noting US measures taken so far had not been enough.

"There needs to be a fundamental resolution," he told reporters.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida raised the issue with US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, and asked the US to do more to prevent a recurrence.

Crimes committed by US forces in Okinawa are highly resented by residents, and US personnel were already under a midnight curfew with off-base drinking banned after the arrest in May of a former US Marine who worked on an American military base in the disappearance of a Japanese woman later found dead.

In March, a sailor was arrested on charges of raping a Japanese woman.

A 1995 rape of a schoolgirl in which three US servicemen were convicted set off widespread outrage.

(China Daily 06/07/2016 page11)