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US naval officer arrested in Okinawa for drunk driving US Navy troops in Japan banned from drinking after latest arrest
(about 4 hours later)
A US Navy sailor has been arrested on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa on suspicion of drunk driving, Japanese police said. The US Navy has banned all its personnel in Japan from drinking alcohol and has restricted off-base activity after a sailor was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.
Petty Officer Aimee Mejia, 21, was involved in a three-car accident injuring two people on Saturday. Petty Officer Aimee Mejia, 21, was involved in a three-car accident on the island on Saturday, injuring two people, said police.
Military personnel are already under curfew after a US military employee was arrested on suspicion of dumping a local woman's body. It is the latest incident involving US troops based in Okinawa.
Many in Okinawa have long campaigned against the heavy US military presence. Many Okinawans have long campaigned against the heavy US military presence.
PO Mejia was driving the wrong way down a street and hit two vehicles. A local woman was left with a cracked breastbone, police said. Police said PO Mejia was driving the wrong way down a street and hit two vehicles. A local woman was left with a cracked breastbone.
PO Mejia's alcohol levels were about six times the permissible level, NHK reported. Her alcohol levels were about six times the permissible level, Japan's NHK network reported.
The US military has said it is co-operating with the Japanese investigation. Under the US Navy's order, personnel will not be allowed to drink at all, on or off base, and cannot leave the base grounds, except for commuting and necessary errands such as picking up their children or groceries.
"We deeply regret this incident and express our heartfelt sympathies for the accident victims and their families. We wish them a fast recovery," said Lt Gen John Dolan, commander of US Forces in Japan in a statement. The Navy said the "liberty curtailment" would remain in place until all personnel had gone through extra training, while alcohol was banned outright until officials "are comfortable that all personnel understand the impact of responsible behavior".
Last month, an American civilian base worker was arrested on suspicion of abandoning the body of a Japanese woman. Police are investigating whether the woman was murdered. "These measures are not taken lightly," Rear Adm Matthew Carter, Commander of Naval Forces Japan, said in a statement.
Following that the US military imposed drinking restrictions and a midnight curfew until 24 June. It is also currently observing a 30-day-period of mourning at its bases on Okinawa. "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 is home to more than half of the 50,000 American military in Japan. There are plans to relocate the Futenma airbase, but after a series of alleged crimes by US military personnel many residents want to see it removed altogether. The US military previously said it was co-operating with the Japanese investigation into the alleged drink-driving case, and expressed sympathies for the injured people
Okinawa is home to more than half of the 50,000 American military personnel based in Japan. Opposition to their presence has rumbled on for years, with anger resurfacing each time a military member is involved in a crime.
US personnel were already under curfew and observing a 30-day mourning period after a civilian military employee was arrested on suspicion of dumping a local woman's body last month.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed outrage over the incident, and raised the issue with US President Barack Obama at the G7 summit in Japan.