Okinawa governor seeks US forces pact review

Okinawa Governor Genta Koja said Monday he would seek a fundamental review of the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement after an American Marine was indicted on suspicion of murdering a 39-year-old Japanese woman at an Okinawa hotel.

Koja said at a news conference in Tokyo that the 1960 pact should be reviewed to include prompt compliance with Japanese requests to transfer detained suspects before indictment and the application of Japanese laws, including aviation rules, to the US military.

Under the agreement, US military authorities have the primary right to investigate and punish service members in Japan when they are on official duty. Critics say the pact gives US forces preferential treatment and has limited Japanese investigations in some cases.

Okinawa lawmakers adopted a resolution last month calling for revisions to the pact, which is due to be submitted to the US embassy.

Japan and the United States agreed Friday on measures aimed at preventing crimes by US service members on Okinawa. US officials also said Friday that a curfew imposed after the woman's murder would be extended for some service members through December 7.