Japan Press Weekly

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2011 May 18 - 24 [US FORCES]

Naha City Assembly demands SOFA revision

The Naha City Assembly in Okinawa at its extraordinary session convened on May 18 adopted a unanimous resolution calling for the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to be drastically revised at an early date.

The resolution also protests the frequent crimes and accidents involving U.S. personnel.

It criticizes the government for maintaining the position that even a drunken-driving death can be exempted from prosecution as long as the U.S. forces regard it as an incident involving “on duty” personnel.

The resolution states, “We cannot tolerate the continuation of this absurd agreement.”