US military on Okinawa face curfew, alcohol ban after murder case

U.S. military personnel stationed on Okinawa are currently prohibited from consuming alcohol for 48 hours and are also under a 30-day curfew following the alleged murder of a woman by an American Marine. This decision was made by Benjamin T. Watson, the Okinawa area coordinator and commanding general of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, in response to the incident which has sparked outrage in Japan.

The governor of Okinawa, who is responsible for the majority of the 54,000 U.S. military personnel based in Japan, is scheduled to meet with the Japanese premier to express his concerns regarding the presence of U.S. forces. Watson announced a complete prohibition of alcohol consumption, both on and off base, effective immediately.

He stated that the 48-hour period, referred to as an operational pause, would provide commanders the opportunity to conduct training on standards, discipline, and the responsibilities of serving as members of the Okinawan community. During this time, all operations will cease, and off-base liberty will not be permitted, according to Watson's statement published on X late Tuesday.