US servicemen banned to leave base alone in Japan

TOKYO - A senior officer of US forces in Japan ordered Friday that military personnel in the country not leave base alone due to a series of crimes committed by US soldiers, according to local report.

Salvatore Angelella, commander of US Forces Japan (USFJ), issued the order of Buddy Program, which took effect Friday, requiring that his servicemen should be accompanied by others if they have to leave their bases at a non-curfew time, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported.

The USFJ has imposed a curfew after two US servicemen raped a Japanese woman in Okinawa in October and US Navy also banned their personnel in Japan from drinking liquor at nighttime due to continued offense.

Angelella said Thursday that the curfew would be lifted when he satisfied that servicemen understand the impacts of their behaviors.