Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 27 december 2016
Japan, U.S. set to sign pact to limit U.S. base worker immunity

MARI YAMAGUCHI Kishida said a clear defini-
Associated Press tion of civilian contractors
TOKYO (AP) — Japan and and adequate control of
the U.S. have agreed in their data would help pre-
principle on guidelines for vent criminal cases in the
limiting immunity from Jap- future.
anese prosecution for civil- About 50,000 U.S. troops
ian workers at American are stationed in Japan
military bases, following a under a bilateral secu-
murder case this year on a rity agreement, more than
southern Japanese island half of them based on Oki-
involving a Marine-turned- nawa. In addition, 7,000
contractor, officials said Americans employed as
Monday. civilian contractors were at
Since July, the govern- U.S. military bases in Japan
ments have been negotiat- as of March.
ing several points concern- The Status of Forces Agree-
ing U.S. civilian contractors ment, originally signed in
at American bases who 1960, gives U.S. military
are subject to protection personnel and civilians
under the countries’ Status employed at American
of Forces Agreement. bases in Japan immunity
Japanese Foreign Minis- from Japanese criminal
ter Fumio Kishida told a procedures in accidents or
regular news conference U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, center right, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yo- crimes while on duty or on
that the two sides have shihide Suga, center left, U.S. Forces Japan commander Lieutenant General Jerry P. Martinez, third base.
from left, and Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, third from right, attend a ceremony to
agreed on how to define mark the return of U.S. military training area, in Nago, Okinawa, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. It also allows the U.S. mili-
what constitutes a “civilian Associated Press tary to hold suspects on
contractor” at an Ameri- base until formal indict-
can base and hope to sign 20-year-old woman, re- tablish a clearer definition from preferential treatment ment by Japan. Okinawan
the agreement “during newed outrage on Okina- of “civilian base workers.” those without skills and authorities say the rule de-
President Barack Obama’s wa, where resentment has In July, the two sides said those who are residents of nies them proper access to
term.” He did not give fur- been simmering over the base contractors, now de- Japan, like the suspect in investigate crimes under
ther details. island’s heavy U.S. troop scribed vaguely as having the April murder case. Japanese law.q
The May arrest of the base presence. a “civilian component,”
specific terms, to exclude China’s 1st aircraft
contractor, accused of That prompted Tokyo and will be classified in more
raping and murdering a Washington to try to es-
carrier sails into

South China Sea

In this undated file photo released by China’s Xinhua News
Agency, China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning berths in a port of Chi-
na.
Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) — China’s Dongsha Islands, a Taiwan-
first aircraft carrier and five controlled atoll in the north-
other warships passed by ern part of the South China
Taiwan and sailed into the Sea, according to the min-
contested South China Sea istry.
on Monday, China’s Defense Ministry
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Saturday that the Lia-
said. oning had set off for a rou-
The ships, led by the Liaon- tine open-sea exercise in
ing, sailed past the Pratas the Western Pacific as part
Islands, also known as the of its annual training. q