Some US civilians working on military bases in Japan are likely to lose their protected legal status under planned changes announced yesterday, as anger rages over the rape and murder of a local woman.
The promised moves come after civilian worker Kenneth Shinzato was charged last month over the death of 20-year-old Rina Shimabukuro on the southern island of Okinawa.
The killing has led to a spike in anti-base sentiment, already running high among Okinawans over a series of crimes including drink-driving arrests.
Photo: AP
The two allies are now to spend several months establishing which civilian base workers will continue to receive special legal protection, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida said.
Although in the Shinzato case, the existing rules did not hinder Japanese police — partially because he lived off base — critics said that unless the agreement is changed, it could get in the way of future investigations.
They said the Status of Forces Agreement is vague in defining who officially qualifies to be considered as part of the civilian component of US forces in Japan.
They fear that the current arrangement could be an issue when US soldiers and civilian workers commit crimes outside of bases, but return to them and are apprehended by military authorities.
In such cases, the US side could keep custody of the suspects until Japanese investigators officially indict them.
Kishida spoke after meeting Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani, US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy and Air Force Lieutenant General John Dolan, the commander of US Forces Japan.
“We are aiming to draft a legally binding document,” Kishida told reporters after the meeting.
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