'Not again': Arrest of US marine for murder reignites protests in Japan's Okinawa

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesByKurumi MoriJapan correspondentFor many Okinawa locals, the arrest of a US soldier accused of robbing and killing a woman in a hotel room has reignited decades of frustration over crimes involving US military personnel there."Honestly my first reaction was, 'Not again,'" 52-year-old longtime Okinawa resident Ai Sato told the BBC."Nothing has changed since I was a child. How many times are we going to repeat the same thing, create more victims, cause their families to suffer, and ultimately, cause the people of Okinawa to grieve?"Akemi Oshiro, a 62-year-old Ginowan resident shared similar sentiments."I know we shouldn't get used to terrible things like this, but because they keep happening, I've stopped being surprised," she told the BBC.Okinawa hosts the largest US military presence in Japan. It is home to several US military bases and tens of thousands of American troops.US Marine Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, was arrested by Japanese police on Sunday. Police say an investigation is underway and that Ballard is in Japanese custody because the alleged crime was unrelated to official military duties.Whether a US service member is acting i...