Okinawa US Forces Plan Curfew, 48-Hour Pause

U.S. forces in Okinawa ordered a 48-hour operational pause from noon Wednesday and a month-long midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew starting Friday after Lance Cpl. Devin Ballard, 20, was arrested on suspicion of robbing and killing Anna Yagi, 39, on Oct. 3 in a Naha hotel. The pause includes a full alcohol ban on and off base and no off-base liberty. Hotel staff found Yagi unconscious after she failed to check out. Police said she died of asphyxiation after Ballard allegedly pressed on her neck; he allegedly took her wallet and backpack. About 200 officers searched for a suspect caught on CCTV entering with her. Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson ordered the steps, saying trust with neighbors is essential to the alliance and that incidents like this demand a pause for reflection. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the killing extremely brutal and heinous, strongly protested to the U.S., and demanded preventive measures. Ballard denied the allegations, according to police. Protests occurred in Naha and Tokyo. Okinawa Governor Genta Koja was set to meet Takaichi on Oct. 7. Most of 18,000 Japan-based Marines are in Okinawa, 100 km from Taiwan at its closest.