The Naha city assembly on Thursday unanimously called for a law requiring the central government to pay compensation for crimes and accidents by U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan.

The call came in a statement that responds to a spate of scandals involving U.S. servicemen in Okinawa, where around 25,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed -- more than half the 47,000 stationed throughout the nation.

The statement says it is "institutionally difficult to seek compensation from perpetrators considering that they stay only a limited period of time and therefore have minimal assets with them" that may be used to pay compensation.

Citing the frequency of accidents and cases involving U.S. servicemen, it states the importance of "clarifying the obligation of the Japanese government for such compensation on behalf of the perpetrator," which will "establish the victims' rights" as a way of protecting citizens' lives and property.