NAHA - The US military suspended activities by all forces stationed in Okinawa for 48 hours from noon on October 7, an unusual measure following the arrest of a US Marine in connection with a robbery and murder case that has renewed scrutiny of crimes involving American service members.
US Military Halts All Okinawa Operations for 48 Hours After Robbery-Murder Case
US Forces Suspend Okinawa Operations After Marine Arrest
Unprecedented 48-Hour Halt Tests US Military Response to Okinawa Crime
US Military Takes Exceptional Step of Suspending All Okinawa Activities for 48 Hours
The US military suspended activities by all forces stationed in Okinawa for 48 hours from noon on October 7, an unusual measure following the arrest of a US Marine in connection with a robbery and murder case that has renewed scrutiny of crimes involving American service members.
The suspension covers US military operations across Okinawa, including Kadena Air Base, regarded as the largest US Air Force installation in the Far East, and Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, where the arrested service member is stationed.
Kadena, normally busy with the repeated takeoffs and landings of fighter jets and other military aircraft, was unusually quiet after the suspension began. At Futenma, Osprey aircraft remained on the ground, with coverings visible over the front sections of some aircraft.
Residents living near the bases also reported a noticeable reduction in aircraft noise.
Hirokazu Teruya, head of the Sunabe neighborhood association in Chatan, Okinawa Prefecture, said the area is normally among the noisiest in the town because military aircraft frequently fly overhead in formations of four after departing Kadena.
"Four aircraft fly over from Kadena Air Base at a time, so I think this is probably the noisiest part of the town," Teruya said. "Today, I haven't really noticed much noise."
The blanket 48-hour suspension is considered an exceptional response by the US military, reflecting the seriousness of another criminal case involving an American service member in Okinawa.
The incident has again drawn attention to the burden carried by Okinawa, where a large concentration of US military facilities has long made crimes and accidents involving service members a sensitive political and social issue.
The effectiveness of the suspension will now be judged by whether the US military follows it with concrete measures capable of preventing similar incidents, placing renewed focus on how seriously commanders intend to address discipline and misconduct among personnel stationed in Okinawa.
Source: TBS
