Japan lodges strong protest over Okinawa murder case

TOKYO: A woman's murder allegedly committed by a US Marine in Okinawa is a 'heinous crime', Japan's premier said on Monday, as the new accusation of violence involving American forces sparked public outrage. The new case involves a US Marine stationed on Okinawa who was arrested on suspicion of killing a 39-year-old woman at a hotel in the city of Naha and stealing her wallet, police said on Sunday.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told lawmakers that the government has lodged a strong protest with the United States, urging their 'full cooperation with the investigation' and 'strict discipline among US military personnel'. 'The occurrence of such a heinous crime is extremely regrettable,' Takaichi said. Around 100 people participated in a rally in Naha on Sunday, holding up placards stating their 'strong protest' against the murder, Japanese media reported.
Crimes including rapes, assaults, hit-and-run and drunk-driving incidents by US personnel have long sparked protests on the island, which bears a disproportionate burden of hosting about 70 per cent of US military facilities in Japan. 'I am infuriated,' Okinawa Governor Genta Koja said. — AFP