The arrest of a US soldier charged with robbing and killing a lady in a hotel room has rekindled decades of resentment among Okinawans about crimes committed by US military troops.Ai Sato, a 52-year-old long-time Okinawan, told the BBC, “To be honest, my first thought was, ‘Not again.'”Since I was a child, nothing has changed. How many times will we do the same thing, add more victims, hurt their families, and eventually cause grief among the Okinawan people?” Similar thoughts were expressed by 62-year-old Ginowan resident Akemi Oshiro.She told the BBC, “I know we shouldn’t get used to horrible things like this, but because they keep happening, I’ve stopped being surprised.”
The largest US military base in Japan is located on Okinawa. Tens of thousands of US soldiers and multiple US military bases are located there. Japanese authorities detained 20-year-old US Marine Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard on Sunday. Ballard is in Japanese custody, according to police, and an inquiry is in progress because the alleged offence had nothing to do with formal military duty. Which nation has primary jurisdiction depends on whether or not a US service member is operating in the course of their official duties. If the suspect is in US custody but Japan lacks jurisdiction, the US may keep custody of them until Japan files charges.
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