U.S. military puts curfew on all personnel in Okinawa

But like some of the creative T-Shirts. I particularly like the one with "LOCKDOWN 2008" in bold red letters, and the O's in LOCKDOWN are made using the Okinawa Symbol. Good creative use of your confinement time. I think another one might be good too: "Stop the Madness, Stop the Lockdown" Just know that most of us here in Okinawa actually support the US Military. It is only a vocal few combined with a biased media that is making all the noise. I apologize to the US Military, and other SOFA status personnel who have movement restricted, on their behalf. Hope this ends soon.

 

Excellent explanation from Charles P.:
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We have to define the word “liberty”. There is “liberty” that is a privilege granted to military personnel when the job is done–you are on liberty at the end of the working day, and it MAY NOT be curtailed without good reason. There is also “Liberty” as defined by the US Constitution. As American citizens we do not give up our Liberty by being members of the US military, nor do we give up any of our rights under the US Constitution. Liberty, in the military sense, may not be curtailed by a Commanding Officer unless it is in response to several situations: 1) the individual concerned is a danger to himself, 2) the individual will bring discredit upon his/her military service, 3) the individual may flee to prevent prosecution for a crime and 4) to prevent injury to others. That is deprivation of liberty for the good of the service. The authority of the Commanding Officer is strictly limited by the Articles of the UCMJ. In this case, by locking down all 45,000 members of the US community on Okinawa the Gen has, in fact, deprived us of our Conditionally guaranteed right of Liberty without due process. As such, he is in violation of the US Constitution and the UCMJ. I don’t know about you, but being a 60 year old retired Naval Officer and diplomat, I haven’t violated any of the above Articles of the UCMJ by living in my apartment next to the water, or eating Sushi once a week or going to Starbucks, riding my bicycle or jogging. In short, I didn’t commit the crime and am being punished for it.

This information is from a NAVADMIN more than 20 years ago, that came about as a result of over zealous ship lock downs of the crew and deprivations of liberty. In fact, it is clearly spelled out, that CO’s cannot require people to work during normal liberty hours–unless there is a good reason for this, such as jobs that need to be finished by a certain time.

Considering this, I’m framing a letter to my US Senator to advise that I have been deprived of my Constitutionally guaranteed right of Liberty by being ” Locked Down” and restricted indefinitely to my apartment. In effect, I’m being punished for the crime, even though I did not commit it and couldn’t have prevented it.

The actions of the Gen concerned are certainly extraordinary and without precedence, and most certainly a violation of the UCMJ and the US Constitution.
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As of today 23 people have been given 48 hours to leave Okinawa for violating the general's lockdown order since they were caught off base at McD's, Starbucks, a friends house off base, where ever. Something to think about.

 

As members of the Military we do in fact give up many rights that an average American takes for granted. We are subjected to the UCMJ, we cannot join a union, we cannot protest agaisn't the Commander and Chief, we cannot deny LAWFUL orders which entails that if our individual behavior brings discredit on our service that we will be restricted to the base.
We give up these basic rights of our own free will so others can exercise their full rights, that is not a question for debate, that is what being a member of the U.S Military is all about.
The issue here is simple......Politics, this whole garbarge is nothing but politics Japanese side and U.S Military side. Our "Generals" and Japan's LDP are nothing but people that care more about their careers then doing what is right for both sides.....Decrying that 40,000 damn good American human beings can't shop at JUSTCO in Okninawa now.

 

Your Point of order is fine. If the General's order was only for the military then I would agree 100% that he could give it. People in the military give up almost all of their rights while they fight for the rest of the people of the United States to have and keep them. Been there, done that.
The fact that he has included civilians in this is where you have to start considering civil rights and if he wrongfully denied them to the civilians by giving this order.
What has happened since Feb 20th, is kicking someone off the island for getting McD's helping to solve anything? Just proving a point that Gen Zilmer is still big man on campus, for now.
I just hope this lock down ends soon so that people can get back to some sense of normalcy.

 

That the US Department of Justice / Attorney General was opening an investigation into the curfew. Good luck to you all!

 

while you're at it... make one that says "STOP RAPING UNDER AGE GIRLS".

 

Those 23 should be sent home anyway for not following orders. Is that not the military way?

When as a class the GIs in Bush's military behave as criminals then they need to controled for their own good and for the good of the members of the host country. The Philippines threw the entire US military out after repeated rapes and when they allowed the US military in recently for a few weeks drill, guess what, rape occured again. Gang rape.

100,000 criminals have been allowed to join the US military in the last few years. And it seems the really screwed up ones end up in Okinawa as the military is leary of them being in the field. Prisoners have no rights, neither now do GIs in Okinawa.

You GIs who want to change this, police your own. Now that would take some courage and character. Whining about what clearly is deserved makes the point clear that GIs in general avoid taking responsibility for their actions. Just like most prisoners.

 

Mainichi JP reports that the Okinawian police have released the Marine due to the 14 yrs old victim "withdrawing her accusation"

"那覇地検は２９日、女子中学生を乗用車内で暴行したとして沖縄署に強姦容疑で逮捕された在沖縄米海兵隊キャンプ・コートニー通信中隊所属のタイロン・ハドナット２曹（３８）＝沖縄県北中城村＝を釈放した。被害者が告訴を取り下げたため。"

 

Seems to be redundant at this point since she just WITHDREW her charges. How about a sign that says "QUIT ACCUSING MARINES OF SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T DO!" ?

 

JT a little slow to pick up on this:

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52959

 

Your confusing the UCMJ with the Constitution. Most of your so called "whiners" understand the difference or did you think that when you held your hand up and swore to uphold...... etc... etc was BS? Thats called ENLISTMENT. The civilians that you so casually write off as whiners are NOT Enlisted. And yes, what the General is doing is illegal and has been proven so in Korea. Thats why we have a Civilian commander in Chief. Lord, it scares the rest of us that guys like you don't know the difference. I did 10 years in the Navy, I always knew that I gave up certain rights when I joined. But when I received my honorable discharge, I was no longer obligated to the military in that capacity. When you discharge, you will understand that. In addition, as a contractor, let me educate you on how the process works. Absolutely, NOWHERE in any contract, or any military instruction does it say that civilian dependents, contractors or DoD Civilians fall under the implicit authority of the military commander of any base. Authority as defined by rules (like Traffic laws, rules that maintain good order etc..) can be applied in everyday life of those who live and work on the bases. But you are sadly confused if you think that any contractor outside of Iraq or Afghanistan (War zones)has in any way given up their civil rights simply to support the military overseas. Honestly, do you really think anyone would sign up the job if it were a prerequisite?

 

U.S. military puts curfew on all personnel in Okinawa
Loki520 (Feb 29 2008 - 23:15) Rate | Report

while you're at it... make one that says "STOP RAPING UNDER AGE GIRLS".

Seems to be redundant at this point since she just WITHDREW her charges. How about a sign that says "QUIT ACCUSING MARINES OF SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T DO!" ?

she only withdrew her charges.. D.A.
(http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60337&archive=true)

and not that i am pointing to anyone in particular when i say "STOP RAPING UNDER AGE GIRLS" !

you D.A.

 

[bold]bold]

MISTAKE. You should have held your ground. MPs have NO JURISDICTION over local civilians, whatsoever. Im a permanent resident and Ill be DAMNED if Im going to let some under-educated, ate-up, power-tripping MP tell me where I can and cant eat!!!

Bottom line: EVERYBODY GROW UP!!!

 

Check the crime stats. Call the NPA (Japan's National Police Agency), or go online: American Military commit almost the least amount of crime in Japan and elsewhere. Everybody just like to harp on it because the media hypes it up so much anytime and everytime one or two people do something wrong.
I'll use Japan as an example since we are here:
In the last 30 years, 2 million U.S. servicemen have committed 5,000 "serious crimes," as against 650,000 Japanese males committing 23,800 serious crimes in just one year, during 2001. The 160 crimes per year U.S. servicemen commit are lost in a sea of Japanese criminality, among the 23,800 crimes committed every year by the Japanese.

 

I've asked this question about ten times in the last few weeks and nobody from the military will answer. Maybe you can help me out.
Do your statistics include the military members who were punished by the US military for crimes against Japanese citizens?
I believe they do not. I believe that you are quoting the statistics of people who were arrested by the Japanese police only. This would not include the guys who are currently being investigated/disciplined by the US military for that alleged gang rape in that parking lot, for example.
It also doesn't include the crimes against other members of the military. How many rape charges were filed by female military members in Okinawa in the last 30 years? I know of at least a few myself. I think if you are going to make statements about criminal activity within a group, you should count all crimes. If you don't, statements like "In the last 30 years, 2 million U.S. servicemen have committed 5,000 "serious crimes," are lies.