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Current Affairs
PM upset at Tokyo's stance on 'comfort women'
by Andy Clark in The Hague
19-03-2007
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| Click to listen to Andy Clark speaking from The Hague |
The Dutch Prime Minister says he's shocked by the Japanese government statement that there's no evidence its military soldiers forced women to work as prostitutes in brothels during World War II. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's denial marks a major U-turn because, until now, the official line had been shaped by an apology made in 1993, which acknowledged this dark chapter in the country's history.
The about-turn has shocked the Dutch government and the Japanese ambassador has been summoned to explain what's going on.
The so-called 'comfort women' - whose task it was to provide 'sexual services' to the Japanese armed forces during World War II - included Dutch women who were also forced into this form of prostitution during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia - which was still a Dutch colony when It was invaded.
Clarification request
Reports saying the Japanese government had changed its position first surfaced two weeks ago, leading Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende (photo) to ask for clarification. He was told then that there had been no change: the official line was still the apology from 1993. So, Mr Balkenende was taken by surprise when the news came later that the Japanese are now denying that their soldiers had forced women into prostitution. Mr Balkenende commented:
"I found out about this via a press release that was passed to me during the cabinet meeting. It was a news story but it was so certain that I immediately contacted the foreign Minister and asked him to contact the Japanese ambassador. It was something that couldn't be ignored."
Sensitive
The fact that the Japanese ambassador was summoned to explain the new position shows how sensitive the issue is. The Dutch Prime Minister was particularly shocked as he had also written to the Japanese government after the rumours about a change of policy first surfaced.
Human rights organisation Amnesty International says around 200,000 women were forced in to prostitution by the Japanese military during World War II. These 'comfort women' were mainly from China, Korea and the Philippines, but - according to Amnesty International - there were also several hundred from Indonesia, which was at the time still a Dutch colony.
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Extracts from statement by Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in 1995:
I would like to share with you my sentiments on the occasion of the establishment of the "Asian Women's Fund." This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the War, an event that caused many people, both in Japan and abroad, great suffering and sorrow.
During these past 50 years we have worked hard to cultivate, step by step, friendly relations with our neighboring Asian countries and others. However, the scars of war still run deep in these countries to this day.
The problem of the so-called wartime comfort women is one such scar, which, with the involvement of the Japanese military forces of the time, seriously stained the honor and dignity of many women. This is entirely inexcusable. I offer my profound apology to all those who, as wartime comfort women, suffered emotional and physical wounds that can never be healed.
Established on this occasion and involving the cooperation of the Government and citizens of Japan, the "Asian Women's Fund" is an expression of atonement on the part of the Japanese people toward these women and supports medical, welfare, and other projects...
Click here to read the full statement on the Asian Women's Fund website.
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Curious
Dutch campaign groups have always played a prominent role in trying to get compensation for these women, and the Dutch prime minister has said he is aware how deep feelings run on this. He's also eager to know what has caused the apparent change of attitude in Tokyo:
"I'm really curious to know what is behind this change of course from a few weeks ago. First there are statements made and then other sorts of statements. We are being confronted with different sorts of messages and I'm interested to find out what's behind that. That's the sort of problem I'm up against."
Asked if the change of position was reason to take collective action now with other countries which had suffered at the hands of the Japanese soldiers, the Dutch Prime Minister said he knew that the irritation was also high in other countries but it was too early to talk about concrete action.
Anger elsewhere
The weeks ahead though may prove difficult for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He has summit meetings planned with both China and the United States in April, and both these countries are also angry about the statements on the so-called comfort women.
South Korea is also furious about the Japanese stance. There are elections coming up in Japan in July and Prime Minister Abe's ratings have been plummeting - his statements may be an attempt to boost support, but they certainly aren't winning Japan any friends internationally.
Tags:
Abe,
Balkenende,
Brothels,
Comfort women,
Japan,
Maxime Verhagen,
prostitution,
Second World War,
Sex slaves ,
Tomiichi Murayama,
World War II
E.P. van Westen,
21-04-2007
- Nederland
If one has seen the movie, The rape of Nanjing, you are left in complete shock. I thought the Nazi's were brutal, but the Japanese surpassed the Nazi's greatly is being brutal, sadistic, and inhuman. With sad highlights, as tying dozens of people together with barbed wire, dowsing petrol over them and setting them aflame. Or the contest between two soldiers, who would be the first to behead 100 persons. This contest was a highlight in the Japanese press at the time! Germany has turned radically 180°, and admitted it's atrocities. Japanese historybooks say nothing about warcrimes. And the Japanese Priminister goes to visit cemetaries, were known warcriminals are burried.
A very sad state of affairs indeed!!!
LK,
20-03-2007
- Japan
If I were a Dutch woman or person of conscience I would pressure Balkenende to condemn this at the highest level. The denial of war atricities is increasing as Japan's emerging power core of hard-core nationalists have issued such statements unchalllenged by anyone but Korea and China. Unfortunately the only way the Japanese media and government seems to take notice and feel they must pull back is when they are shamed by a Western country. Also make sure whatever redress you get is done in Tokyo. If the Japanese ambassador makes some aplolgy in The Hague, you can be sure it is an empty attempt designed only to pacify and will be ignored by the media here.
Holland is one of the countries the Japanese respect, due toi the unique place you had as a trading partner during a period that Japan had otherwise isolated itself from the world. The Dutch must use this position to act on behalf of the EU and in the name the victims of the sex slavery imposed by the Japanese WWII military.