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Japanese Lawmakers Propose Compensation For Sex Slavery Victims
By Na Jeong-ju
02-12-2003
Eighty-six Japanese lawmakers have recently proposed a bill demanding the Tokyo
government compensate Asian women forced to serve as sex slaves for the
Japanese soldiers during World War II, a Japanese lawmaker said yesterday here.
"We are expecting a long and winding road (until the legislation)," Democratic
Party of Japan member Tomiko Okazaki, 59, said during a rally in front of the
Japanese Embassy in downtown Seoul.
She sat with some of the Korean survivors of the sex slavery for the Japanese
military and shouted slogans to demand the Japanese government admit the
atrocities committed and ensure compensation for the women, often referred to
as "comfort women."
"Future-oriented relationship between Korea and Japan can only be made on the
foundation of resolution of the past," Okazaki told reporters. "An increasing
number of Japanese lawmakers has paid attention to the tragedy and tried to
push the government to offer apology."
It is the first time that a Japanese lawmaker has participated in the South
Korean-organized rally concerning the issue.
Some of the comfort women have been staging rallies for the last 11 years on
Wednesdays in front of the Japanese embassy. Yesterday marked the 545th rally.
The Japanese government has never publicly acknowledged or apologized for the
use or mobilization of the comfort women, although there have been countless
demonstrations by the women and their supporters.
Okazaki said the Japanese legislators, mainly from the opposition parties, are
trying to raise support from politicians in such victimized countries as
Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines and South Korea for earlier enactment of the
law.
The proposed law is set in three parts: An official apology from the Japanese
government, the establishment of a commission to push for the investigation
into the case and compensation for victims, and preparing institutional grounds
for compensation from the Japanese government for victims, the lawmaker
explained.
"The Japanese government has turned a deaf ear to this case, but it is not
desirable for the future of the two countries," she said.
Of the 207 comfort women who had reported to the government, 78 have died
during the last eleven years, including 11 in 2002.
Approximately 200,000 women, about 80 percent of them Koreans, are estimated to
have been victims of the Japanese sexual slavery in the Asia-Pacific area
before and during the World War II.
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