Okinawa Governor Genta Koja Calls for a Fundamental Review of the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement After Marine Murder Indictment

TOKYO — Okinawa Governor Genta Koja told a news conference in Tokyo on November 9 that he will request a fundamental review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, after a U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa was indicted on suspicion of murdering a 39-year-old Japanese woman, a case that has triggered outrage on the island.

Prosecutors last month indicted Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, stationed at Futenma Air Station, accusing him of strangling Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in Naha early on October 3 and stealing her backpack and wallet. Ballard has denied the allegations. Okinawa's prefectural assembly adopted a resolution last month calling for the pact to be revised, which will soon be submitted to the U.S. embassy.

Koja said that after every incident or accident involving U.S. military personnel or civilian employees, Okinawa has repeatedly lodged strong protests and urged effective, fundamental measures, including a review of the agreement, without meaningful improvement. He said the review should include prompt compliance with Japanese requests to transfer suspects before indictment, and the application of Japanese laws such as the aviation act to the U.S. military. He also sought the swift return of lands used by the U.S. military in Okinawa's commercial centre under a 2013 agreement, to help boost the local economy.

The United States stations about 54,000 personnel in Japan, mostly in Okinawa, which hosts about 70 percent of U.S. military facilities in Japan. Japan and the United States agreed on Friday to measures aimed at preventing crimes by U.S. service members, and U.S. officials said a 30-day curfew imposed on some personnel after the murder will be extended through December 7.

Koja, elected governor in September, is the first Okinawa leader in 12 years to approve the plan to relocate the Futenma air base to a less populated area of the island.

Related: Follow-Up: Japanese Prosecutors Indict U.S. Marine in Naha Hotel Killing

(Source: AFP)

Source: AFP

Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: 图：日本冲绳那霸若狭海滨公园（资料图）。图片来源：663highland／Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 3.0，本站档案图复用。 / Photo: Wakasa Seaside Park in Naha, Okinawa (file photo). By 663highland, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. GSM archive image reused.

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