Japan Press Weekly

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2008 April 30 - May 13 [US FORCES]

U.S. Marines arrested for trespassing

Police arrested two U.S. Marines on May 8 on suspicion of breaking into a bar-restaurant in Okinawa’s Ginowan City after business hours.

They are Cpl. Andrew Jones, 23, and Lance Cpl. Christian Pons, 20, of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.

Police said that they were drunk when arrested and denied breaking the law.

Japanese Communist Party Ginowan City Assembly member Chinen Yoshio said, “Even after the Okinawans’ rally in late March in protest against crimes committed by U.S. servicemen, we are witnessing such crimes almost everyday.”

“It seems that the U.S. forces see themselves as the occupiers of Okinawa and regard Okinawans as worthless. I feel both fear and anger toward them,” said Chinen. - Akahata, May 9, 2008