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US navy in Okinawa imposes alcohol ban after drink-drive arrest | US navy in Okinawa imposes alcohol ban after drink-drive arrest |
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The US navy has banned its 18,600 sailors stationed in Japan from drinking alcohol and restricted their off-base activities after police arrested a US sailor on the southern island of Okinawa on suspicion of drink-driving following a car crash that injured two people. | The US navy has banned its 18,600 sailors stationed in Japan from drinking alcohol and restricted their off-base activities after police arrested a US sailor on the southern island of Okinawa on suspicion of drink-driving following a car crash that injured two people. |
Sailors will be kept on base and banned from drinking until “all personnel understand the impact of responsible behaviour on the US-Japan alliance”, the navy said. Sailors living off base will be allowed to travel to and from base and conduct only “essential activities”. | |
The restrictions do not apply to family members and civilian contractors, but they are being encouraged to observe the rules “in a spirit of solidarity”, a spokesman said. | |
Rear Admiral Matthew Carter, commander of US naval forces in Japan, said: “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.” . | Rear Admiral Matthew Carter, commander of US naval forces in Japan, said: “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.” . |
The US military was already observing a 30-day mourning period at bases on Okinawa after a contractor was arrested on suspicion of killing a 20-year-old Japanese woman and dumping her body. | The US military was already observing a 30-day mourning period at bases on Okinawa after a contractor was arrested on suspicion of killing a 20-year-old Japanese woman and dumping her body. |
Renewed anger among Okinawa residents about the US military presence threatens a plan to relocate the US Marines’ Futenma airbase to a less populous part of the island, which was agreed in 1995 after the rape of a Japanese schoolgirl by US military personnel sparked huge demonstrations against the base. Okinawa’s governor and many residents want the marines off the island. |