Okinawa restrictions frustrate dependents

[unhappycamper]

Okinawa restrictions frustrate dependents
By David Allen, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, February 29, 2008

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Confusion over the rules for the indefinite “period of reflection” imposed last week for all personnel affiliated with the U.S. military on Okinawa is turning into anger.

After a week of being restricted to the bases or their off-base homes, Americans here are beginning to voice concerns about what some are calling being placed on “house arrest” for crimes they did not commit.

“How do they have the authority to do this to the wives and children of active-duty servicemembers — especially the Japanese spouses?” asked Kathryn Perez in a telephone interview Wednesday. She is the spouse of a Marine and lives in Chatan, near Kadena Air Base.

“One thing that is really amazing is not all of the commands are implementing the same rules,” she said. “Why can my friend, an Army spouse, do things when I can’t?”

Marine officials contacted by Stars and Stripes never call the order a restriction.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52915