There have been many instances of US troops committing major crimes on the island of Okinawa in Japan

 

January. 31, 2010 (Hamsayeh.Net) - Yesterday in Tokyo, thousands of angry Japanese marched in the streets demanding an end to US military presence in Okinawa, an island south of Japan. Listening to a speech by a Cabinet minister who reassured the gathering that she would do her best to get rid of marine bases on the island.

 

‘The Cabinet is saying that it will announce its conclusion in May. For this reason, over the next few months we must put all of our energy into achieving victory,’ Cabinet minister Mizuho Fukushima addressed the huge gathering.

 

The US military presence has been in effect since the end of the Second World War through an armistice signed between Tokyo and Washington. The latter cites the ever-present security issues for it active presence in Japan, but the Japanese particularly the Okinawans see the US bases as major sources of pollution, noise and crime in the area. In the past there have been many instances of US troops committing crimes such as raping of under aged schoolgirls and other felonies. 

 

There are now over 47,000 US troops in Japan with more than half on the island of Okinawa at several bases. With the coming into power of the new Japanese government, there have been more public calls for an end to US troops presence in Japan supported by most of the cabinet members.

 

The new Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, has given his own support for US troops withdrawal, but he is still struggling to get a final approval from all the members of his own government. According to the polls, a clear majority of Japanese people are asking for an end to US military presence in Japan.