(cache) Indonesian Comfort Women Still Get No Support from the Indonesian Government

Selasa, 26 Oktober 2010

INDONESIA

Indonesian Comfort Women Still Get No Support from the Indonesian Government

(id) 19 Oktober 2010 - 18:1 WIB

Fajar Sodiq/ Angga Haksoro - translated by Rosmi Julitasari

VHRmedia, Yogyakarta – Indonesian ’comfort women’ or known as jugun ianfu have fought for apology and compensation from the Japan Government for many years. In the mean time, the Indonesian Government seemed to neglect their sorrow, according to the Director of a Yogyakarta-based legal aid institution, Budi Santoso.

“The South Korean, China, and Philippines Government have given their support for Jugun Ianfu to get their rights. Unfortunately, the Indonesian Government does not give the same support,” Budi Santoso explained.

The Indonesian Government, according to Budi Santoso, must urge the Japan Government to take responsibility on the life of these comfort women.

“These women suffer from psychological trauma. They are also isolated in their neighborhood, for being seen as prostitutes,” said Budi Santoso on Tuesday, 19 October 2010.

200,000 Jugun Ianfu in Asia are urging the Japan Government to pay compensation to them. “In 1997, Jugun Ianfu in Indonesia had received financial aid. But the aid was not from the Japan Government, it was from Asian Women Fund.”

But the women refused the financial aid, because the Japan Government has not said apology to them.

“The Indonesian Government received Rp 775 million per year. The fund was flowed in 10 years, that it had been received by the Department of Social Affairs,” Budi Santoso explained.

However, none of Jugun Ianfu has received the money. “They said that the money was used to build nursing home. But the location of the nursing home is still unclear,” Budi Santoso added. (E1)

Photo: VHRmedia/ Fajar Sodiq

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