Tomoko Kashiwazaki
APWLD Programme Assistant

10 August was a day of global demonstrations in Korea, China, San Francisco, Hague, New York, Taiwan, Philippines, Germany, Canada, Indonesia, Timor L’Este, and Tokyo, to call for justice for all victims, survivors and their families of war time sexual slavery by Japanese military before and during the World War II, euphemistically called “comfort women”.

For the last 14 years since 1992, the survivors and their supporters have been gathering in front of the Japanese Embassy in Korea calling for justice every Wednesday. Most of the survivors are in their 80s and 90s. They have appealed to the Japanese Government demanding official apologies and compensation for the war crimes they suffered. The survivors believe that it is their duty to ensure that no more women fall victims to sexual slavery and that justice prevails.

On 12 August, the standing demonstration in Tokyo was followed on August 12 by a meeting with a representative of Prime Minister Jyunichiro Koizumi. The Prime Minister himself declined an invitation to the meeting to accept the global petition with 500,000 signatures calling for reparation for the survivors and legislation for investigation and compensation, and appeal against Japanese Government becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Four survivors arrived from Korea to speak at the demonstration in Tokyo. Fan Kum Ju harmoni (“aunt” in Korean) shared how she had come to work at the arms factory which turned out to be a “comfort station”. The survivors are concerned that future Japanese generations will never learn about its government’s wartime crimes as the page on “comfort women” was removed from school history textbooks. “It cannot be finished by hiding its truth. The truth shall be disclosed”, said Kim Won Ok harmoni.

The survivors expressed their gratitude for their supporters who have been advocating for their cause and encouraged to continue working until justice prevails. “I will live until I’m 200 years old. I am worried about you. Please, live long and continue to fight for justice together with us”, Lee Yong Su harmoni said and sang to the Korean drum.

For more info on war time sexual slavery by Japan’s Military:
http://www1.jca.apc.org/vaww-net-japan/english/index.html
http://www.wam-peace.org/
http://www.womenandwar.net/english/index.php