Alcohol ban on US Navy in Japan after drink- driving

Tokyo, June 6: The US Navy said on Monday that it imposed an alcohol ban on its personnel in Japan as the Tokyo government condemned a military drink- driving case which fuelled growing opposition to US bases on Okinawa.

The United States has come under renewed pressure to rein in bad behaviour after a base employee was arrested in May for allegedly abandoning the body of a 20- year- old Okinawan woman whom the police suspect was raped and murdered.

Crimes by US personnel have long sparked protests on the crowded strategic island and have been an irritant in relations between the allies.

US President Barack Obama in May vowed measures to prevent crime by Americans and the military imposed restrictions including a curfew.

But a naval officer was arrested at the weekend after allegedly driving the wrong way down a street

A naval officer was arrested on the weekend after allegedly driving the wrong way down a street while intoxicated and injuring two people, one seriously

while intoxicated and injuring two people, one seriously, according to the Okinawan police.

US sailors stationed throughout the country are banned from drinking, both on and off base, for an undetermined period and will also be subject to other restrictions, US Naval Forces Japan said in a statement.

“For decades, we have enjoyed a strong relationship with the people of Japan,” Matthew Carter, the naval commander in Japan, said in the release.

“It is imperative that each sailor understand how our actions affect that relationship, and the US-Japan alliance as a whole.”

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday told government officials and ruling party legislators that the drink- driving case “is extremely deplorable... as it happened right after ( the US) said they would make efforts to strengthen discipline”, Jiji Press reported.

Top government spokesperson Yoshihide Suga called the incident “egregious”.