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Asahi Shimbun
27-05-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
U.S. Marine in Okinawa accused of fleeing car crash that hurt 4
NAHA—Okinawa prefectural police arrested a U.S. Marine on suspicion of negligent driving and fleeing from a traffic accident that injured four people, including two children, on May 25. Ivan Garcia Martinez, a 20-year-old lance corporal stationed at the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Hansen, denied the hit-and-run allegation. 'I caused the accident, but I provided first aid for the injured,' sources quoted him as saying. The Naha Police Station said Martinez was driving on National Route 58 in the Aja district in Naha at around 10:30 a.m. on May 25, when his car hit an adjacent vehicle. The impact caused the vehicle to overturn, resulting in minor injuries to four people, including the female driver, 39, from Urasoe in the prefecture, a 10-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy. The suspect was not at the scene of the accident when police arrived. But he was later found nearby. A test showed his blood-alcohol level was about twice the legal limit, police said. A series of alcohol-related incidents involving U.S. military personnel have recently been reported in Okinawa Prefecture. On May 26, prefectural police arrested a 23-year-old member of the U.S. Marine Corps stationed at Camp Schwab on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Okinawa police on May 25 arrested a U.S. soldier on suspicion of breaking into a residence. On May 23, another U.S. service member was arrested for alleged public indecency.
Kyodo News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Kyodo News
U.S. military, Okinawa hold 1st safety forum after sex assault cases
KYODO NEWS - May 9, 2025 - 22:44 | All, Japan Representatives of U.S. forces in Japan and Okinawa authorities held their first meeting Friday under a new forum to discuss joint safety measures, following alleged sexual assault cases involving American service members in the southern island prefecture. In closed-door talks at the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Foster, the U.S. military outlined its existing preventive measures, while both sides agreed to work toward holding a regular joint community patrol, like the one conducted in April in the city of Okinawa, and expanding it to other parts of the prefecture, according to a local government official. The launch of the new dialogue venue, named "Okinawa Community Partnership Forum," was announced in July last year by U.S. Forces Japan, after revelations of alleged sexual assault cases in June sparked renewed safety concerns among locals. Okinawa Prefecture hosts the bulk of U.S. military installations in Japan, and anti-base sentiment runs deep due to aircraft noise, pollution and crimes committed by American service members. The participants of the first meeting of the new forum included representatives from the Okinawa prefectural government, the city of Okinawa, local police, the U.S. forces on Okinawa and the U.S. Consulate General Naha. Officials from Japan's foreign and defense ministries also took part. The meeting is expected to be held about once a year going forward. Specific assault cases were not discussed in the meeting, according to the local government official. "Establishing an avenue for each organization to propose measures to prevent incidents involving U.S. military is of great significance," Masahito Tamari, director general of the Okinawa governor's office, told reporters after the meeting. The U.S. military said in its statement that the talks "highlighted the importance of ongoing communication and collaboration between USFJ and the Okinawa community." "Both sides reaffirmed their dedication to fostering a positive and mutually beneficial relationship based on trust and respect," it added. Related coverage: U.S. Marine in Okinawa indicted over rape, injury U.S. Marines from Okinawa to start moving to Guam barracks in June U.S. Marine suspected of raping woman at Okinawa base
Japan Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
U.S. military, Okinawa hold 1st safety forum after sex assault cases
Representatives of U.S. forces in Japan and Okinawa authorities held their first meeting Friday under a new forum to discuss joint safety measures, following alleged sexual assault cases involving American service members in the southern island prefecture. In closed-door talks at the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Foster, the U.S. military outlined its existing preventive measures, while both sides agreed to work toward holding a regular joint community patrol, like the one conducted in April in the city of Okinawa, and expanding it to other parts of the prefecture, according to a local government official. The launch of the new dialogue venue, named "Okinawa Community Partnership Forum," was announced in July last year by U.S. Forces Japan, after revelations of alleged sexual assault cases in June sparked renewed safety concerns among locals. Okinawa Prefecture hosts the bulk of U.S. military installations in Japan, and anti-base sentiment runs deep due to aircraft noise, pollution and crimes committed by American service members. The participants of the first meeting of the new forum included representatives from the Okinawa prefectural government, the city of Okinawa, local police, the U.S. forces on Okinawa and the U.S. Consulate General Naha. Officials from Japan's foreign and defense ministries also took part. The meeting is expected to be held about once a year going forward. Specific assault cases were not discussed in the meeting, according to the local government official. "Establishing an avenue for each organization to propose measures to prevent incidents involving U.S. military is of great significance," Masahito Tamari, director general of the Okinawa governor's office, told reporters after the meeting. The U.S. military said in its statement that the talks "highlighted the importance of ongoing communication and collaboration between USFJ and the Okinawa community." "Both sides reaffirmed their dedication to fostering a positive and mutually beneficial relationship based on trust and respect," it added. © KYODO
Kyodo News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Kyodo News
U.S. military, Okinawa hold 1st safety forum after sex assault cases
KYODO NEWS - 4 minutes ago - 22:44 | All, Japan Representatives of U.S. forces in Japan and Okinawa authorities held their first meeting Friday under a new forum to discuss joint safety measures, following alleged sexual assault cases involving American service members in the southern island prefecture. In closed-door talks at the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Foster, the U.S. military outlined its existing preventive measures, while both sides agreed to work toward holding a regular joint community patrol, like the one conducted in April in the city of Okinawa, and expanding it to other parts of the prefecture, according to a local government official. The launch of the new dialogue venue, named "Okinawa Community Partnership Forum," was announced in July last year by U.S. Forces Japan, after revelations of alleged sexual assault cases in June sparked renewed safety concerns among locals. Okinawa Prefecture hosts the bulk of U.S. military installations in Japan, and anti-base sentiment runs deep due to aircraft noise, pollution and crimes committed by American service members. The participants of the first meeting of the new forum included representatives from the Okinawa prefectural government, the city of Okinawa, local police, the U.S. forces on Okinawa and the U.S. Consulate General Naha. Officials from Japan's foreign and defense ministries also took part. The meeting is expected to be held about once a year going forward. Specific assault cases were not discussed in the meeting, according to the local government official. "Establishing an avenue for each organization to propose measures to prevent incidents involving U.S. military is of great significance," Masahito Tamari, director general of the Okinawa governor's office, told reporters after the meeting. The U.S. military said in its statement that the talks "highlighted the importance of ongoing communication and collaboration between USFJ and the Okinawa community." "Both sides reaffirmed their dedication to fostering a positive and mutually beneficial relationship based on trust and respect," it added. Related coverage: U.S. Marine in Okinawa indicted over rape, injury U.S. Marines from Okinawa to start moving to Guam barracks in June U.S. Marine suspected of raping woman at Okinawa base
