Over the weekend, authorities in Okinawa arrested two U.S. service members in separate assault cases, amplifying local concerns over the presence of foreign troops on the island.
On Saturday, the prefectural police detained 25-year-old airman Tomas Salazar from the U.S. Air Force’s Kadena base after reports that he allegedly knocked down his girlfriend in her 20s at a parking lot around 3:30 a.m. and punched her multiple times. The victim sustained injuries to her mouth, though Salazar has denied the accusations.
The following day, 21-year-old Private First Class Gabriel Monize of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Camp Hansen was arrested on suspicion of putting his hands around the neck of a 40-year-old Japanese man in his parked car at about 12:10 a.m. Monize also denied the charges and refused an alcohol test.
These incidents come on the heels of a recent apology from Neil Owens, chief of staff for the Third Marine Division, who visited Naha City’s prefectural government office on July 3. Owens apologized for the anxiety caused by a sexual assault case involving Marine Jamel Clayton, who was sentenced to seven years in prison last month for attempting to sexually assault a local woman and injuring her in May of last year.
Okinawa, which accounts for just 0.6 percent of Japan’s land area, hosts roughly 70 percent of all U.S. military bases in the country. While the island’s strategic importance is undeniable, residents have long voiced grievances over incidents involving service members, calling for greater oversight and stronger community relations.
As both cases move through the legal system, locals and advocates are watching closely, urging authorities to ensure justice and prevent future incidents. The balance between regional security and community trust remains a delicate one in Okinawa’s evolving relationship with U.S. forces.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
