US Navy imposes alcohol ban for soliders stationed in Japan

The U.S. Navy announced an alcohol ban for its personnel in Japan Monday, in the wake of a military drunk driving case which increased opposition to U.S. bases on Okinawa.

U.S. sailors stationed in Japan are prohibited from drinking, both on and off the base, for an undetermined period, U.S. Naval Forces Japan said in a statement.

The alcohol ban came after a naval officer was arrested during the weekend for allegedly driving drunk and injuring two people, one seriously, according to Okinawa police.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that the drunk driving case "is extremely deplorable... as it happened right after (members of the U.S. side) said they would make efforts to strengthen discipline," Jiji Press reported.

Last month, a base employee was arrested for allegedly abandoning the body of a 20-year-old Okinawan woman whom police suspect was raped and murdered.

Faced with strong protest against the U.S. bases in Japan as well as the bad behavior of its personnel, U.S. President Barack Obama last month vowed measures to tighten discipline and the U.S. military introduced, among others, a curfew.

More than half of the 47,000 American troops in Japan are stationed on Okinawa.

source : xinhua