Several thousand Okinawans angry over recent reports of crimes allegedly committed by US troops held a loud but peaceful protest yesterday, with many demanding the troops be withdrawn from the island altogether.
The protest was followed by a march to the gate of a nearby US Marine base. No incidents or arrests were reported.
The demonstration was sparked by recent news reports of US troop-related crime, including the arrest of a Marine for allegedly assaulting a 14-year-old Okinawan girl last month.
PHOTO: AP
The Marine was later released from Japanese custody and no charges were filed.
"The voice of Okinawa is angry," said protest organizer Tetsuei Tamayose. "We need a fundamental change."
Banners demanding the complete withdrawal of US troops from Okinawa ringed the makeshift stage of the protest, held outside a baseball stadium.
Okinawa, a major outpost for the US military in the Pacific, is home to roughly half of the 50,000 US troops stationed throughout Japan.
The troops provide a major economic boost to the island, which is one of Japan's poorest regions, but problems with base-related accidents, crowding and crime are endemic.
The rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US servicemen in 1995 created a huge outcry and led to plans for the redeployment of 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to the US territory of Guam.
The latest allegations have not sparked as much outrage, and organizers of yesterday's rally said a strong rain contributed to a relatively limited turnout, which fell short of the 10,000 people they had hoped for.
The US military here has reacted strongly to enforce discipline by restricting troops to bases, work sites or off-base housing and ordering a review of education guidelines to prevent sexual assault.
U.S. military authorities are still investigating last month's alleged attack.
Several other incidents -- including a robbery -- were reported soon after that attack, however, and were linked to military personnel.
Other high-profile crimes have also heightened emotions.
The US military has announced it will soon court martial four Marines accused of raping a 19-year-old woman in October. That case was also investigated by Japanese police, but dropped in November.
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