Two US servicemen have been arrested in Okinawa following alleged assault incidents, intensifying local concerns about the US military presence on the island. In one case, Tomas Salazar from the US Air Force’s Kadena base is accused of assaulting his girlfriend in a parking lot at around 3:30 a.m. local time. Reports allege that he knocked her down and punched her repeatedly, causing injuries to her mouth. Salazar has denied the accusations.
In a separate incident, Gabriel Monize, a private first class with the US Marine Corps at Camp Hansen, is under suspicion for assaulting a 40-year-old Japanese man who was in his parked car at approximately 12:10 a.m. during the early hours of the day. Monize is reported to have approached the vehicle from behind and attacked the man by wrapping his hands around his neck. He, too, has denied the allegations and refused an alcohol test.
These cases come on the heels of previous incidents that have already stirred local frustrations. Just last week, senior US Marine officials formally apologized to Okinawan local officials after a related incident, marking the first official apology in a series of similar cases. Okinawa, which hosts 70% of US military bases in Japan despite covering only 0.6% of the country’s land area, has long had its share of tensions over crimes committed by service members.
This news serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by communities living alongside a heavy military presence. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops. 😮
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
