15 Japanese prefectures jointly call for revising pact governing U.S. forces in Japan

TOKYO, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- A liaison council comprising the governors of 15 Japanese prefectures hosting U.S. military bases and related facilities submitted a petition to the central government on Thursday, calling for a revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

The petition said that safety issues arising from U.S. military flights, as well as the leakage of hazardous substances into areas surrounding U.S. military bases, could significantly impact residents' lives, stressing the need to restrict such activities under Japanese domestic laws.

It also pointed out that in recent years, a number of problems had emerged over the use of Japanese civilian airports and ports by U.S. forces, and that there had also been cases of U.S. military personnel carrying firearms outside bases, raising concern among residents. The governors' council called on the U.S. forces in Japan to respect Japanese laws and regulations.

Yuji Kuroiwa, governor of Kanagawa Prefecture and head of the liaison council, told reporters the same day that without a fundamental revision of SOFA, the various problems involving U.S. forces in Japan could not be resolved.

Japan and the United States signed SOFA in 1960. The bilateral pact gives U.S. servicemen and civilian workers in Japan privileged legal status and has long been criticized for being overly protective of U.S. base workers.

Under the agreement, U.S. military authorities have the primary right to exercise jurisdiction over crimes allegedly committed by U.S. base service members and the civilian component if the accused was acting on "official duty." Many cases involving U.S. military personnel in Japan have gone unresolved.