Brief
Okinawa assembly calls for review of US‑Japan forces pact after Marine killing
The assembly adopted a resolution demanding changes to the agreement that governs US troops on the island.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Okinawa prefectural assembly adopted a resolution on Friday calling for a review of the Japan‑US Status of Forces Agreement after a US Marine was accused of robbing and killing 39‑year‑old Anna Yagi at a hotel in Naha.
What happened
Lance‑Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, was arrested on Saturday for the alleged killing. The incident sparked demonstrations in Tokyo and Okinawa and prompted the US military to pause operations for 48 hours and impose a 30‑day curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. starting Friday.
What the reports add
Al Jazeera notes that the assembly’s resolution urges adaptation of the Status of Forces Agreement to compel the US military to prevent similar incidents and to cooperate fully with investigators. It also mentions that some assembly members opposed the resolution because it did not demand the dismissal of the US military chief in Okinawa.
What was said
Ryotaro Odo, head of the assembly’s special committee on US bases, said the US military was “not functioning as an organisation,” describing the killing as “extremely heinous and despicable.” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the crime as “heinous.”
How it came about
The call follows a long history of protests over US‑military crimes on the island, which hosts the majority of the 54,000 US troops stationed in Japan. The assembly previously passed a similar resolution in 2024 after a series of sexual assaults by US servicemen.
Key facts
- Okinawa assembly adopted a resolution to review the US‑Japan Status of Forces Agreement after a Marine killing. (aljazeera.com)
- Lance‑Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, is accused of killing Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in Naha. (aljazeera.com)
- The US military paused operations for 48 hours and imposed a 30‑day curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Japan’s Okinawa calls for review of US forces pact after killing”
