‘How many more women?’ Fury in Okinawa as US presence faces renewed backlash

The arrest of a US marine suspected of murdering a Japanese woman in Okinawa has sparked public outrage and intensified the call among local residents, like Takako Kakazu, for the withdrawal of American soldiers from the island.

This incident has reignited longstanding controversies over the heavy US military presence in Okinawa, which has been a source of tension due to past crimes involving US forces.

While some residents recognize the economic and strategic benefits of the military bases, the recent events have heightened frustration and calls for stricter adherence to laws by US personnel.

For Americans living there, concerns about rising community tensions have been noted, although some maintain that relationships between locals and foreigners generally remain good.

NAHA (Japan), Oct 11 — A week after a US marine was arrested on suspicion of murdering a Japanese woman in Okinawa, resident Takako Kakazu is clear what she wants: American soldiers to leave.

The case has prompted public outrage, caused Japan’s premier to slam the “heinous crime” and reignited controversy over the heavy US military presence on the southern island.

“I just can’t accept this anymore. How many more women in Okinawa have to suffer like this? Everyone is angry,” she told AFP.

“I know America says they’ll protect us if there’s a war, but all we ever get is suffering... Please leave,” said the 55-year-old housewife, who has one daughter.

On a busy, sunny weekend close to Okinawa’s capital Naha, life seemed normal as tourists and Americans who appeared to be from the military packed beaches and shopping streets.

But residents on Okinawa, where any crimes involving US forces have long inflamed criticism of the troops’ presence, told AFP of their frustration and anger in the wake of another alleged incident.

According to police, a US marine stationed on Okinawa was arrested on suspicion of killing a 39-year-old woman at a hotel in Naha and stealing her wallet.

Local media reported she was choked to death and that the Marine is denying the allegations.

“Honestly, my first reaction was: ‘Not again’,” said Airi Hiane, a 23-year-old cafe worker.

“If they’re going to maintain that presence here, they need to follow the rules. Otherwise, it’s hard to feel like we can move forward together.”

But Hiane acknowledged it “difficult to demand that it (the US military) be removed entirely”, and other residents also said that Americans were important to many local businesses.

Military base-related income accounts for around five per cent of the region’s annual total, and some argue that the bases create jobs.

Japan — which has a pacificist constitution — also relies on US military might as a deterrent against any potential attack, and has emphasised the importance of American soldiers being garrisoned, trained and on standby 24/7.

For Americans living on the island, there were fears that the latest incident would create tensions within the community.

Stephen Butler, a bar owner in Naha, acknowledged that “it does not look good for the rest of us that are here, that want to be here peacefully and enjoy the culture”.

His bar “Sidelines” was also suffering after US forces were barred on Wednesday from drinking alcohol for 48 hours in the wake of the murder.

But he also said that “relationships are good” between locals and foreigners on the island.

“I’ve been here a very long time, and I know all the other owners in the area... There’s always a lot of respect.”

For resident Kakazu, her problem is with the US forces specifically.

“It’s terrifying,” she said, before adding in an apparent plea to authorities: “Please, I’m begging you, do something to stop this.” — AFP

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一名涉嫌在冲绳谋杀日本妇女的美国海军陆战队员被捕，引发了公众的强烈愤慨，也加剧了当地居民（如高子嘉津）要求美军撤出该岛的呼声。

这一事件再次引发了关于美军在冲绳驻扎过重兵的长期争议，由于美军过去犯下的罪行，这一直是紧张局势的根源。

虽然一些居民认识到军事基地的经济和战略利益，但最近发生的事件加剧了他们的不满，并呼吁美国人员更加严格地遵守法律。

对于居住在那里的美国人来说，社区紧张局势加剧令人担忧，尽管有些人认为当地人和外国人之间的关系总体上仍然良好。

日本那霸，10 月 11 日——一名美国海军陆战队员因涉嫌在冲绳谋杀一名日本妇女而被捕一周后，居民高子·卡卡祖明确表示她想要什么：美国士兵离开。

该案件引发了公众的强烈愤慨，导致日本首相谴责这一“令人发指的罪行”，并再次引发了关于美国在南部岛屿上大量驻军的争议。

“我真的无法再接受这样的事情了。冲绳还要有多少女性遭受这样的痛苦？每个人都很愤怒，”她告诉法新社。

“我知道美国说如果发生战争他们会保护我们，但我们得到的只有苦难……请离开吧，”这位55岁的家庭主妇说道，她有一个女儿。

在一个阳光明媚、熙熙攘攘的周末，冲绳首府那霸附近，游客和看起来像是军人的美国人挤满了海滩和购物街，生活似乎一切如常。

但冲绳居民向法新社表达了他们对另一起涉嫌事件的沮丧和愤怒。长期以来，任何涉及美军的犯罪行为都会激起人们对美军驻扎的批评。

据警方称，一名驻扎在冲绳的美国海军陆战队员因涉嫌在冲绳那霸一家酒店杀害一名39岁女子并抢走其钱包而被捕。

当地媒体报道称，她是被勒死的，而那名海军陆战队员否认了这些指控。

“说实话，我的第一反应是：‘不会又来了’，”23岁的咖啡馆员工艾莉·海恩说道。

“如果他们想继续在这里活动，就必须遵守规则。否则，我们很难觉得能够携手前进。”

但海恩承认“很难要求（美军）完全撤离”，其他居民也表示，美国人对许多当地企业来说很重要。

与军事基地相关的收入约占该地区年度总收入的百分之五，有人认为这些基地创造了就业机会。

日本奉行和平宪法，也依靠美国的军事力量来威慑任何潜在的攻击，并强调了美军驻扎、训练和全天候待命的重要性。

对于居住在岛上的美国人来说，他们担心最近发生的这起事件会加剧社区内部的紧张局势。

那霸的一位酒吧老板斯蒂芬·巴特勒承认，“这对我们这些留在这里、想要和平地享受文化的人来说，情况并不乐观”。

他的酒吧“Sidelines”也受到了影响，因为在谋杀案发生后，美军于周三被禁止饮酒 48 小时。

但他还表示，岛上当地人和外国人之间的关系“很好”。

“我在这里住了很久，认识这片区域所有其他的业主……大家一直都很尊重彼此。”

对于居民卡卡祖来说，她的问题具体出在美国军队身上。

“太可怕了，”她说，随后似乎在向当局恳求：“求求你们，请采取行动制止这一切。”——法新社

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