Naha:The U.S. military in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, has been ordered to suspend operations for 48 hours and impose a one-month nighttime curfew after the arrest of a Marine suspected of murder and robbery.
According to Thai News Agency, Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, a 20-year-old U.S. Marine, is suspected of murdering a 39-year-old local woman at a hotel in Naha on Saturday and stealing her wallet and other belongings. Corporal Ballard, stationed at Futenma Marine Corps Air Base, was arrested on Sunday.
Lieutenant General Benjamin Watson, the Okinawa Area Coordinator and Commander of the Third Marine Corps Force, announced the suspension of all U.S. military operations in Okinawa for 48 hours starting Wednesday noon. During this period, independent activities outside the base and alcohol consumption are strictly prohibited.
Additionally, a curfew will require military personnel to stay indoors from midnight to 5:00 AM for 30 days, starting this Friday.
Okinawa Governor Koja Genta expressed strong disapproval of the incident to Lieutenant General Watson and other officials, urging the U.S. military to take decisive and effective measures. Japanese Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara remarked that the incident has caused grave concern among local communities and is something that should never have happened.