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Shinzo Abe urged to confront Japan's colonial aggression and use of sex slaves Shinzo Abe urged to confront Japan's colonial aggression and use of sex slaves
(about 1 hour later)
Japanese historians have urged prime minister Shinzo Abe to offer an honest account of the country’s wartime use of sex slaves in the runup to the 70th anniversary of the end of the Pacific war.Japanese historians have urged prime minister Shinzo Abe to offer an honest account of the country’s wartime use of sex slaves in the runup to the 70th anniversary of the end of the Pacific war.
In a statement released this week that echoes a demand recently issued by overseas experts, 16 groups of academics, including the Japanese Society for Historical Studies, said the government must “squarely” confront Japan’s wartime conduct.In a statement released this week that echoes a demand recently issued by overseas experts, 16 groups of academics, including the Japanese Society for Historical Studies, said the government must “squarely” confront Japan’s wartime conduct.
Despite signs of an improvement in Sino-Japanese ties, speculation is building that Abe’s conservative administration will not repeat an official apology to the “comfort women” – a euphemism for as many as 200,000 women, mostly from the Korean peninsula, who were forced to work in military brothels.Despite signs of an improvement in Sino-Japanese ties, speculation is building that Abe’s conservative administration will not repeat an official apology to the “comfort women” – a euphemism for as many as 200,000 women, mostly from the Korean peninsula, who were forced to work in military brothels.
Early indications are that Abe will also make no reference to Japan’s colonial rule and aggression on mainland Asia in the first half of the 20th century, when it invaded the Korean peninsula and parts of China. The omissions would mark a clean break with apologies issued by his predecessors on previous war anniversaries, and risk raising tensions with South Korea and China.Early indications are that Abe will also make no reference to Japan’s colonial rule and aggression on mainland Asia in the first half of the 20th century, when it invaded the Korean peninsula and parts of China. The omissions would mark a clean break with apologies issued by his predecessors on previous war anniversaries, and risk raising tensions with South Korea and China.
The Japanese academics said in their statement that comfort women had been the victims of “unspeakable violence as sex slaves”.The Japanese academics said in their statement that comfort women had been the victims of “unspeakable violence as sex slaves”.
They added: “As recent historical studies have shown, victims were subjected not only to forced recruitment, but also to conditions of sexual slavery which violated their basic human rights. By continuing to take the irresponsible stance of denying the facts of wartime sexual slavery in the Japanese military, certain politicians and sections of the media are essentially conveying to the rest of the world that Japan does not respect human rights.They added: “As recent historical studies have shown, victims were subjected not only to forced recruitment, but also to conditions of sexual slavery which violated their basic human rights. By continuing to take the irresponsible stance of denying the facts of wartime sexual slavery in the Japanese military, certain politicians and sections of the media are essentially conveying to the rest of the world that Japan does not respect human rights.
“This kind of attitude tramples further upon the dignity of the victims, who have already borne terrible hardships.”“This kind of attitude tramples further upon the dignity of the victims, who have already borne terrible hardships.”
While Abe has said he will not alter the wording of an apology to survivors of military sexual enslavement issued in 1993 by the then chief cabinet secretary, Yohei Kono, he has resisted pressure to repeat the apology, most recently during his address to a joint session of the US congress.While Abe has said he will not alter the wording of an apology to survivors of military sexual enslavement issued in 1993 by the then chief cabinet secretary, Yohei Kono, he has resisted pressure to repeat the apology, most recently during his address to a joint session of the US congress.
The Japanese historians said that, “all concerned politicians and media outlets to squarely face up to the damage that Japan inflicted in the past, as well as to the victims”. The Japanese historians urged “all concerned politicians and media outlets to squarely face up to the damage that Japan inflicted in the past, as well as to the victims”.
The demand comes soon after several hundred academics, mainly from the US and Europe, voiced alarm at attempts to rewrite Japan’s wartime history, and urged Abe to “act boldly” in addressing sensitive issues from the past.The demand comes soon after several hundred academics, mainly from the US and Europe, voiced alarm at attempts to rewrite Japan’s wartime history, and urged Abe to “act boldly” in addressing sensitive issues from the past.
Related: Anger of wartime sex slaves haunts Japan and South KoreaRelated: Anger of wartime sex slaves haunts Japan and South Korea
In an open letter, more than 180 scholars called for “as full and unbiased an accounting of past wrongs as possible”. The number of academics who wish to add their names to the protest has since more than doubled to more than 450.In an open letter, more than 180 scholars called for “as full and unbiased an accounting of past wrongs as possible”. The number of academics who wish to add their names to the protest has since more than doubled to more than 450.
Rightwing revisionists associated with Abe have been emboldened by misreporting of the sex slave issue by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Last summer, the liberal daily admitted that it had run a series of articles stretching back to the 1980s that were based on testimony given by Seiji Yoshida, a former Japanese soldier, whose claims were later found to be false.Rightwing revisionists associated with Abe have been emboldened by misreporting of the sex slave issue by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Last summer, the liberal daily admitted that it had run a series of articles stretching back to the 1980s that were based on testimony given by Seiji Yoshida, a former Japanese soldier, whose claims were later found to be false.
Abe was one of several conservative politicians who claimed the Asahi’s erroneous coverage had sullied Japan’s reputation abroad.Abe was one of several conservative politicians who claimed the Asahi’s erroneous coverage had sullied Japan’s reputation abroad.
However, the academics said previous government apologies were not based on the Asahi’s reporting or Yoshida’s testimony, adding: “The existence of forcibly recruited ‘comfort women’ has been verified by many historical records and extensive research.”However, the academics said previous government apologies were not based on the Asahi’s reporting or Yoshida’s testimony, adding: “The existence of forcibly recruited ‘comfort women’ has been verified by many historical records and extensive research.”
Abe has previously questioned the widely held belief that Japanese military authorities coerced the women. He has also said that Japan has apologised enough for its actions during the war.Abe has previously questioned the widely held belief that Japanese military authorities coerced the women. He has also said that Japan has apologised enough for its actions during the war.