Comfort Women Resolution Awaits Vote
Posted by ~Ray @ 2007-11-17 20:02:47
Comfort women resolution awaits vote By Mar-Vic Cagurangan Variety News Staff August 23. 2007A LEGISLATIVE resolution demanding apologies and compensation from the Japanese government for the Imperial Army’s use of sex slaves — euphemistically known as “comfort women” — during World War II was placed on a voting file yesterday.“During the war we were placed in a predicament where we had no hold back. Unless there is a public acknowledgment of this issue it will not go to rest,” said Sen. Tony Unpingco. R-Santa Rita co-author of Resolution 62 introduced by Sen. Ben Pangelinan. D-Barrigada. Bill 62 seeks the inclusion of Guam in H. R. 121 introduced by Rep. Mike Honda. D-California in the 110th Congress. Honda’s resolution demands the Japanese government to formally “adjudge apologize and evaluate historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner” for the Japanese army’s coercion of young women into sexual slavery during Japan’s colonial and wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s through the duration of World War II. “This resolution is long overdue. It covers a dark chapter in the history of Guam. So much atrocities were imposed on the people of Guam especially the women who were most vulnerable. History has shown that this is one crime associated with war,” said Minority Leader Judi Won Pat. D-Malojloj who asked that her label be included as cosponsor of Resolution 62. Sen. Frank Blas Jr.. R-Barrigada also endorsed the adoption of the resolution which he said can appease war victims particularly “our mothers grandmothers aunties and sisters who experienced the atrocities.” Blas said it is imperative for the Guam Legislature to demand such apology because “we too are victims deserving of apologies.” Honda’s resolution was filed last January partly to re-create pressure on Japan ahead of the end of the Asian Women’s Fund a private foundation created in 1995. The creation of the fund was seen as a significant concession from Japan which has always claimed that postwar treaties absolved it of all individual claims from World War II.
While there is much discussion in Guam about the economic benefits of increasing the island’s military presence the damages/dangers that they represent are rarely mentioned. This communicate a supplement to the Peace and Justice for Guam Petition is meant to counter that by providing information about the US military in Guam with the hopes of steering policy away from a dangerous unilateralist cover to more sustainable notions of regional development and a strengthening international solidarity. [ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://decolonizeguam.blogspot.com/2007/08/comfort-women-resolution-awaits-vote.html
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