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Former Sex Slaves Sue Japan for Compensation
12-11-2002
WASHINGTON - A group of former sex slaves of Japanese soldiers during
World War II brought their case Tuesday to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals,
demanding an apology from the Japanese emperor and compensation from the Tokyo
government. Attorneys for 15 ex-comfort women, natives of South Korea, China,
Taiwan and the Philippines, called for the appeals court to try the case.
The attorneys insisted that the U.S. court holds jurisdiction over the class
action suit, noting that the atrocities took place in the Philippines, which
was U.S. territory before and during World War II.
The Japanese military kidnapped, tortured and sexually abused young girls in
the countries conquered by Japan, they said, noting such acts violated the 1976
law against human trafficking.
According to the attorneys, Japan's military committed the atrocities in
cooperation with "pimps" and therefore such activities should fall into the
category of commercial activities for which foreign governments are not granted
immunity.
The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) protects other governments from
suits in the United States, except under very limited circumstances such as
certain commercial contexts or instances.
A lower court ruled in favor of the Japanese government in October last year,
saying it saw no reason to retroactively apply the FSIA, enacted in 1952, to a
case that took place before the legislation was introduced.
The attorneys for the former comfort women said that they were confident that
the appeals court would soon make a just decision.
The attorneys said that they would also file a suit against Japanese businesses
that benefited from the sexual slavery.
Meanwhile, a group of 20 activists supporting the former comfort women staged a
rally in front of the Department of State, demanding justice for the victims of
Japanese sexual slavery.
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