Demonstrators marched on the American Embassy demanding its troops depart Japan
Outrage over the alleged killing of a lady by a US Marine in Okinawa has erupted in Tokyo, the place protesters marched on the US Embassy demanding an finish to the American army presence in Japan.
The demonstrations comply with the arrest of Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, suspected of strangling Anna Yagi, 39, at a lodge on the island on Saturday and stealing her belongings. Ballard has denied the allegations.
Okinawa is dwelling to a number of main US army installations and tens of 1000’s of American service members.
Footage from Tuesday’s rally exhibits demonstrators carrying placards demanding justice for Yagi and calling for US forces to depart Japan, earlier than marching exterior the embassy underneath a heavy police presence.
“Neither the US military nor the embassy has offered a proper apology. It is only natural to be angry about this,” one protester stated.
Another demonstrator stated resentment over crimes involving US personnel had gathered over a long time and accused the authorities of ignoring repeated calls for to take away American bases.
“It is truly infuriating that the presence of these bases leads to women being killed or raped like this. I cannot forgive it,” the protester stated.
Tokyo has lodged a proper protest with Washington over the case. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has described the alleged killing as a “heinous crime” and demanded full US cooperation with the investigation, tighter self-discipline amongst American personnel, and measures to stop comparable incidents. Washington has expressed remorse over Yagi’s loss of life and pledged to cooperate with the Japanese authorities.
The case has reignited a decades-old dispute over the focus of US army services in Okinawa. The prefecture accounts for simply 0.6% of Japan’s territory however hosts round 70% of the land solely utilized by US forces within the nation.
Crimes involving American personnel have repeatedly fueled opposition to the bases. In 1995, the kidnapping and rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan lady by three US servicemen triggered mass protests. In 2016, former Marine and US base employee Kenneth Franklin Gadson raped and murdered 20-year-old Rina Shimabukuro and was later sentenced to life imprisonment.
READ MORE: US Marine arrested over killing of girl in Okinawa
Further sexual assault allegations involving US personnel have emerged in recent times regardless of measures launched by the US army to tighten self-discipline, together with elevated patrols and restrictions on off-base consuming.