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© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Filipino ex-sex slaves demand justice from Japan
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Disillusioned
And herein lays the problem. If it wasn't for the Japanese government downplaying these events this issue would have gone away. Their claims that these women volunteered are absurd, but then they turn around and justify it by stating its acceptable in war. These are two totally contradictory statements and I cannot blame anybody for being peeved over the J-Gov's response. Yeah, some money has been paid in compensation and apologies have been written, but for the modern government to start this downplaying and lying about the events is a slap in the face for all those who were mistreated by the Japanese military.
Patricia Yarrow
And here I thought "Comfort Station" was just a nice way of saying the "W.C.". Even more insulting to these sex slaves of past.
Eppee
Wasn't it what Philippines' comfort women were demanding in a lawsuit which has been dismissed and closed by Tokyo's government ?!
ReformedBasher
Claiming ALL women volunteered is absurd.
BUT prostitution exists in times of peace. It's silly to assume SOME prostitutes don't continue their "line of business" during times of war also.
This is NOT to say that ALL "comfort" women were prostitutes, and even the ones that were prostitutes were not mistreated.
I fully support compensation where and when due.
ReformedBasher
This story is not about China or Korea. You are Off Topic nameless Japan Today submitter.
Anyone know what compensation has been been paid for these women?
nath
That's exactly it. This problem would be so easy to bury. The Japan government keeps cutting off its nose to spite its face.
nandakandamanda
Quote, Disillusioned "And herein lays (sic) the problem. If it wasn't for the Japanese government downplaying these events this issue would have gone away. Their claims that these women volunteered are absurd, but then they turn around and justify it by stating its acceptable in war. These are two totally contradictory statements and I cannot blame anybody for being peeved over the J-Gov's response."
To be fair, it is not the J government turning around and saying anything, but as the article makes clear here: "Dy denied she and others were voluntary prostitutes, as Japanese nationalists have contended." and here: "Japanese nationalists also say Japan has been unfairly criticized for a practice they say is common during war." it is J nationalists, some of whom like Hashimoto may be in the government, but it is not the voice of the present Japanese government.
SV40T
You could have had justice when the asian women's fund was set up.
The question is, how many of them were prostitutes and how many were enslaved? And how can you find out if a former comfort woman was forced or not? Even the 20,000 to 200,000 estimate for the total number is not exactly precise.
toshiko
Read Comfort Women in WikiPedia/ If you can read Japanese Language, Japanese Language version as it has more details on Military plans and orders and others, names of military officials who ordered, executors, etc. And plenty more than English version. You don't have to ask victims, whose majority are in graves, Just documents a variety of people found. Many founders have Japanese names. History long before WW II. are written.
ProudJapanese
Overchan ????
sensei258
Oldman is right. Whee were they during previous compensation attempts? So many in the PI are poor, this could just be a way to get some quick cash.
Garthgoyle
So really, what is real justice? I understand what was done to them is wrong but what does she mean by "real justice". Most of the people that committed those terrible crimes are long gone. Money is not real justice.
Until there is peace based in justice? War was a long time ago and we are in peace times. Want justice? Then let's bring the fight and hatred towards all those Douchebags that are currently trafficking humans so more people don't go through what these women went through.
War was over a long time ago. As much as it must hurt, it's time move on.
WilliB
Looks to me somebody is trying to jump on a bandwagon here.
ANewAsia
The problem with the comfort women issue are not only nationalists, but that there is no finality to it.
When previous attempts were made to identify and compensate them, where were they? Why are they streaming out only today?
Further, it is hardly justified for China, Korea and play up these issues for political benefit as and when they see fit.
It is hardly unreasonable that the moderate Japanese public is less and less convinced that there is a genuine need to compensate than it is a concerted attempt to encircle Japan, playing into the hands of right-wing nutters.
nath
Is there an expiration date for suffering?
oldman_13
Indeed, where were these women when the Japanese government tried to compensate them decades before?