ALPHA welcomes Jewish Congress’ support
TweetCanada ALPHA is encouraged to learn that the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) has issued a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper urging him to support the “Comfort Women” Motion 291 tabled by MP Olivia Chow in the House of Commons.
On September 21, 2007, a letter signed by the 2 Co-presidents of CJC, Sylvain Abitbol and Rabbi Dr. Rubuven Bulka was sent PM Harper to expressed the Jewish community’s concern that sixty years after the Second World War, there remain around the world individuals and groups whose suffering from the depredation of Nazism, fascism and imperialism continues and that their need for recognition, redress and apology still burns brightly even as the years have taken their toll. One such group that is of CJC’s special concern is the women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army. Euphemistically referred to as “comfort women, their recollections of torture, humiliation and degradation are a painful reminder of the depths to which humans can sink in their treatment of others.
CJC endorses the “Comfort Women” motion, It is expressed in the letter that the Jewish community, more than most, understands the need for recognition of wrong-doings, for apology, for justice however overdue and for just compensation. CJC is of the opinion that It is only through such tangible measures that the victims of atrocity can achieve some measure of closure and peace.
Recognizing the tragedy of the “Comfort Women has been documented beyond dispute, CJC criticizes the refusal of the Japanese Diet to formally acknowledge, and provide proper compensation for, the disreputable acts that were performed by the government of the day is an affront to the dignity of those who remain; an insult that grows no duller with the passing of the years.
CJC urge Prime Minister Harper to apply the principled and courageous approach that has marked Canada’s foreign policy under his leadership to a demarche with the Japanese on this important matter. CJC asked PM Harper to support the “Comfort Women” Motion ad to call for Japan to apologize and to provide restitution so that the surviving “comfort women” can find greater dignity in their final years.
“Hon. Jason Kenney, Secretary of States for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity expressed his understanding of the atrocity and his sympathy to these victims after meetings with representatives from different ethnic communities in both Vancouver and Toronto. He also promised to report this matter back to PM Stephen Harper and the Cabinet. It’ time for our PM Stephen Harper and his Conservative government to take a clear stand and concrete action to support redress for the women forced into military sexual slaves by the Japanese Imperial Army. NDP is fully in support of this Motion by having PM Olivia Chow tabled Motion 291 in the House of Commons back in March 2007. Mr. Stephane Dion, leader of the Liberal also supports Canadian House of Commons calling for Japanese Apology to World War II “comfort women” as expressed in his press statement on August 10, 2007. What is our Prime Minister and his government waiting for?” asked Thekla Lit, Co-chair of Canada Association for Learning & Preserving the History of WWII in Asia (ALPHA).
Dr. Joseph Wong, another Co-chair of Canada ALPHA confirmed that survivors of Japan’s military sexual slavery systems from China, Koran, the Philippines and Holland have been invited to come to bear witness at public forums to be held in Toronto and Ottawa in November. “This will be a good opportunity for MPs and Canadian citizens to have a better understanding of this unfinished chapter of history. For many comfort women who are still alive, and a lot more who perished with shame, Japan certainly owes them an apology. The rest of the world also owes them an apology, for our silence for over 60 years,” said Dr. Wong.
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