politics

Abe sent support message to war criminal memorial service in April

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By Kyoko Hasegawa

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In his message, Abe said: "I express my grief at the death of martyrs... who sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today," according to two participants and a report by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.

Martyrs? They were responsible for some of the worst crimes against humanity. Hardly martyrs in anyone's eyes, unless you're an ultra-nationalist with an Japanocentric, revisionist view of history.

11 ( +20 / -9 )

Japan committed terrible atrocities during the war. There, that's out of the way. But but but...Abe-san is pretty much damned no matter what he does. Almost every country honors its war dead. Whether or not that is seen as positive or negative depends on which side (winning or losing) the country was/is on. Having said that, look at the opening sentence of the article: "...an April memorial service dedicated to World War II war criminals...". Although I wasn't there (and so I could be very wrong), I doubt the ceremony was dedicated to 'war criminals'. I suspect (and I repeat, I wasn't there so I could be wrong) it was dedicated to war DEAD. No one would show up for a ceremony to celebrate criminals. Whether on the side of 'right' or 'wrong' it doesn't change the fact that tens of thousands of people died. The whole temple/shrine thing is another matter....

-10 ( +9 / -19 )

In the ceremony organized by former Japanese military officers, some 220 people prayed before a cenotaph on which the names of around 1,180 suspected and convicted World War II war criminals are inscribed, organizers said

In his message, Abe said: “I express my grief at the death of martyrs… who sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today,” according to two participants and a report by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper

.Anyone who can read this and not conclude that Abe is a blatant nationalist and potentially dangerous to Asian relations is just not willing to accept reality. Disgusting that he could "express his grief at the death of these "matryrs"', but not say a word about their millions of victims. Totally insulting.

8 ( +17 / -9 )

PM Abe not only has a poor grasp of economics, he shows an appalling lack of understanding of WW2, and those who started it. The "14" buried in Yasukuni Shrine went on a kill-crazy rampage that claimed millions of lives, and caused so much destruction.

To pay homage to a group of people who plunged their country into a senseless war is immoral. It's no wonder relations between Japan and its neighbours is in such a sad state.

8 ( +13 / -5 )

Abe's logic is fatally flawed.

I express my grief at the death of martyrs… who sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today

The war criminals he refers to sacrificed their lives for the Tenno (Emperor of Japan whom they believed at the time to be a god) in an attempt to invade and colonise as much of the planet as possible. Peace wasn't their intention and it certainly wasn't their action. Millions died.

Supposing the President of Germany, Joachim Gauck had sent a message expressing his grief at the death of Hitler, Rommel, Goebels, etc., who sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Germany today."

Maybe it might be an idea for Abe to step down for a few years while he is getting "professional help."

Couldn't wish it on a nicer guy!

18 ( +23 / -5 )

"Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday declined to comment on Abe’s message, insisting it had been sent in his capacity as “a private person (and) president of the Liberal-Democratic Party, and not as the prime minister”.

It’s very amusing to hear the spin doctor ,Suga's explanation “Abe acted in a private capacity…” Yeah, right !

There is no doubt about whom Abe really is – an ardent ultra-nationalist and revisionist at the core. However, look on the bright side, if Washington doesn’t keep a lid on him, he might have gone further.

Unlike Abe, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida declined the request when he was also asked to submit a message in writing this year. Why ? Kishida at least knows right from wrong.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

Bertie - right to the point.

And the use of "Martyr" - In Japanese did he really call them martyrs on whose sacrifices modern Japan is founded???

Reality check seriously required.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Two faced Abe, you can't be Mr international and do this

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Japan committed terrible atrocities during the war. There, that's out of the way. But but but...Abe-san is pretty much damned no matter what he does. Almost every country honors its war dead.

No, he's only damned if/when he does things like this. And honoring war dead is ok, including war criminals is not. Please show one other first-world nation that honors war criminals.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

what if the President of Germany says this to the Nazis and Adolf Hitler? : “I express my grief at the death of martyrs… who sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Germany today,” because this equates to what Abe just did... No doubt that Japan is still the world's favorite, imagine after saying this there were no condemnation from other countries (except for China and Korea) and they will definitely get defended by some "apologists". Why Japan always act as the victim?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

This is just bringing the obnoxiousness level up to 11. Bad enough when he is going to Yasukuni, where they enshrine all the war dead, but now Abe is specifically going out of his way to support just the war criminals.

I express my grief at the death of martyrs… who sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today

Needless to say in fact these people sacrificed their lives in a futile attempt to prevent the foundation of peace and prosperity that exists in Japan today. His words are a truly Orwellian twisting of language.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

@gogogo “Two faced Abe, you can't be Mr international and do this” Well summarized!

This is why Abe’s self-destructive acts like this one would cancel much of efforts spent on his 23 trips which were attempted to convince leaders of 47 countries about 'Japan -is-back.'.

One thing is pretty sure at this point that Abe’s backpedaling nationalistic shenanigans hurt Japan’s credibility in the international community more than he could comprehend after major international media covered this story.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Abe is digging ground for him.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Mitch CohenAug. 27, 2014 - 08:33PM JST

Martyrs? They were responsible for some of the worst crimes against humanity.

While I agree with the latter part of your comment, I think criticizing the word "martyrs" is questionable unless we know the original Japanese word he used. I do not think the Japanese language has the exact equivalent of "martyrs" which is heavily linked to Christian faith.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

What is largely forgotten in Japan is that the same men who lead Japan's plunder of China, Korea and SE Asia, now described by Abe as having sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today, also plundered Japan. No sooner had Emperor Hirohito finished his announcement of surrender, when Japan's military and political leaders, with the help of local police and yakuza, stole what is estimated to be 80% of Japan's wealth. This included all essentials such as rice, coal, gasoline, lumber, cement etc. which were sold on the black for up to 34 times their market value, as well as money "26.6 billion yen were hastily distributed before the arrival of occupation forces, mainly to military contractors". The result was 4 years of starvation, depravation and misery for the Japan's population. The same people who had sacrificed so much their country during the war. With what is referred to as the "hoarded goods scandal...structural corruption was established as a foundation stone of the postwar political economy of Japan". It's no wonder people like Abe worship these criminals.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

So where are the usual suspects here who insist that the only Asians who really care about these matters are Chinese and Koreans? And if that's true, why did Abe just send a note rather than attending in person, assuming that antagonizing Chinese and Koreans is something that Abe no longer cares about? Why didn't he go and happily get photographed with those unrepentant individuals at Koyasan? Hint: There are ways to jeopardize the Japanese business community's gold rush in places like Burma.

And how exactly do you send a message and do so not in the capacity of prime minister when you are, indisputably, prime minister? Is there an invisible layer of prime minister's clothing that Abe took off before sending that message? Can Park Geun-Hye send a message to somebody in South Korea and do so not in the capacity of president, even though she is president?

8 ( +10 / -2 )

he is just buying his time at the sake of his own declining

4 ( +5 / -1 )

CH3CHO, The "sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today" part of the quote makes clear what he meant, regardless of the Japanese word for "martyr."

6 ( +7 / -1 )

My questions here are:

Who dont understand Japan indeed? Who is keep lying all the time?

Not all the people around the world are blind.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Dear oh dear, Abe really has no clue at all, does he? He may as well express his grief at the death of Japanese allies Hitler and Himmler too. What a terrible, dangerous man, how can he represent Japan around the world when he holds these beliefs?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

I see the usual revisionists, deniers and apologists don't have anything to say. Perhaps this is too embarrassing even for them.

I love this, though:

Organizer Kazuaki Naka, 75, said the service has been held “to console the souls of war dead, who sacrificed their lives for their home country, whether their executions were fair or unfair.”

I may be mistaken, but I don't think even many Japanese people go in for consoling the souls of those who were fairly executed. I suppose war criminals' relatives just have a different morality.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

It's just a show for the many nationalists here in Japan. I've been to Kanchanaburi in Thailand in the area where many of the POWs death camps were. There is a cemetry for the japanese soldiers who died during WW2. It is in a rotten status, no one really takes care of it. This is in such a contrary to the cemetry for the allied soldiers there which is well taken care of by the Dutch, Australian, British, etc. governments. The japanese government does nothing for them even after the Thai government asked them to do. Germany takes very great care of the german cemetries in Russia even working together with a russian organization there.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Is anyone truly surprised by this? Abe has shown all the trapping of an amoral ultranationalist who would love to see a second act of Japanese militarist aggression and the end of democracy in this country. Ever heard the expression "reverse course"? I was used in the 60s and 70s in reference to the LDP's reactionary politics. Well, Abe has been putting reverse course into practice with a vengeance. He still too squeamish to actually attend this ceremony for these "martyrs" (read murderous swine) but maybe he will next year, in his "private capacity" of course.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

“I express my grief at the death of martyrs… who sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today,”

You say what??? Sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace? These are criminals that were responsible for the deaths of literally millions of people throughout Asia. They should be shamed and forgotten, not famed and remembered! Using the word 'martyr' is so wrong it disgusts me!

10 ( +12 / -2 )

“I express my grief at the death of martyrs… who sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today,”

You say what??? Sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace?

I know... I mean, I always thought they were just psychotic fiends who got hunted down and killed after a rampage of killing, looting, torture and rape, but it turns out they were in fact selfless visionaries who gave up everything to build modern Japan! Well, selfless visionaries need hobbies, I suppose.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

I tried to find a Japanese article on yahoo.co.jp to find out the actual quote of Abe's words, but I couldn't find anything on this subject. Has anyone else seen anything in the Japanese news on this?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

the first time abe was talking in truth , their leader contributed to prosperity whether to their citizen or others ,doesn't matter after all , Says the country who went to a war in Afghanistan and iraq

hello EU ,didn't you made a worldwide crusade to spread your Christianity with the sword ,, despite every country of EU or USA has a rich cultivated land , yet they imposed sanction on japan and took a big fortune like they did in Russia , they complain about morals , back the money you have established your prosperity on it , back the stolen land , if there is somebody to blame , we (US , EU ) are the first one to take the first shot

I am waiting -10 underrate since the weak guy argues with upset and showing his sick mentality

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

“I express my grief at the death of martyrs… who sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today,”

Abe referred to the fallen soldiers in Japanese as jyunshokusha (殉職者) which is sometimes translated as "martyr," but is also often translated as "[a person] killed in the line of duty" or something similar along those lines.

Also, my Japanese-Japanese dictionary gives the definition of jyunshoku (殉職) roughly translated as "loss of life in the course of fulfilling one's duty. [example sentence: [He] made the ultimate sacrifice fighting the fire.]" ("職務を果たそうとして命を失うこと。 「消火活動で−する」 .")

The Cabinet Public Relations Office (内閣広報室) probably should have put more thought into what the word "martyr" means.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Japanese leaders play for the home audience. they know they control the media and history books here and think it's fine to lie to their own people. So the whole world is wrong about history and Japan alone is right huh? Let these politicians get up on the world stage, in front of the UN and deny Japan's wartime guilt. They'll be laughed off the stage.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

I tried to find a Japanese article on yahoo.co.jp to find out the actual quote of Abe's words, but I couldn't find anything on this subject. Has anyone else seen anything in the Japanese news on this?

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20140827/k10014124411000.html http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/news/140827/plc14082721050012-n1.htm

Abe's actual quote in Japanese is "今日の日本の平和と繁栄のため、自らの魂を賭して祖国の礎となられました昭和殉難者のみ霊に謹んで哀悼の誠をささげます"

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Koreans and Chinese are fully justified in their accusation that Japan doesn't have a clue about war responsibility if the country's prime minister truly believes imperial military leaders "sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today"

Hello, they were the obstacle, not the cause, of Japan's "peace of prosperity." How out of touch can you get?!?! Are Japanese citizens also pointing out this uttered flawed logic? I guess not, eh.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Yeah, Abe, because these wr criminals sure did live the same idea of "harmony" while they were vivisecting live human beings, eh? Oly a scumbag would call mass murderers "martyrs".

10 ( +13 / -3 )

"MikeAnderson": Not sure what you are rambling on about up there; perhaps you could write it in Japanese?

It seems you agree with Abe, but Abe doesn't make any sense either. Abe claims that war criminals, responsible for butchering civilians and other heinous acts, somehow helped to create modern Japan. I can't see the connection myself.

I would argue that it was the defeat of Japan and the imposition of the current constitution that led to the prosperous, democratic Japan we live in today. Those war criminals (and Abe) were and are utterly opposed to the freedoms granted by the constitution, which is why Abe wants to revise it.

Let's face it: Abe is a foaming-at-the-mouth nutcase, unfit to be prime minister.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Didn't hang enough criminals should have hung more should have been his message. Now that would have been a message that humanity would understand.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

As far as millions are concerned, these evil men couldn't have died too soon. In fact, it may have been better if they had never been born in the first place.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

@JeffLee

Koreans and Chinese are fully justified in their accusation that Japan doesn't have a clue about war responsibility if the country's prime minister truly believes imperial military leaders "sacrificed their lives to form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today"

Japan probably can understand where Chinese (except Taiwanese) sentiment is coming from but how would Koreans be justified for this accusation? You should know 148 Koreans and 173 Taiwanese were prosecuted as C-class war criminals. The point here is Koreans are not even entitled to blame anything against Japan that had to do with WW2.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

@tictactogo

The quote you found was slightly different from the one I found. Interesting. Mine (below) came from the Japanese version of a Korean newspaper, which quoted Abe as saying: "「今日の平和と繁栄のために自らの魂を賭して祖国の礎となられた殉職者の霊魂に、謹んで哀悼の意を送る」"

This quote uses "殉職者" which typically means "killed in the line of duty."

The version you found (from a Japanese newspaper) uses the word "殉難者" (junnansha) which does translate as martyr. The Japanese-Japanese dictionary definition for "殉難" (junnan) is "[the act of] sacrificing oneself for the benefit of the public, the nation or religion." (国家・宗教や公共の利益のために一身を犠牲にすること。 ).

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Sensato Interesting. I also checked and found Yahoo News which was a translation of Korean newspaper (JoongAng Ilbo) and it says "殉職者" (Junsyokusya) insted of "殉難者" (Junansya). http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20140827-00000040-cnippou-kr Though, I don't think it really matters whether Koreans mistranslated deliberately or simply lacks base knowledge of Chinese characters. Both Koreans & Chinese want to criticize the point which Abe (as a prime minister of JP) commemorated death of war criminals, and it seems that's a good enough reason to manupilate the world that PM Abe is trying to reestablish Imperialism again. The most of Japanese know that his action (and ex-PMs visiting Yasukuni Shrine) is nothing more than paying respect to ancestors who sacrificed their lives regardless of various perceptions of "history" domestically and globally. Believe it or not, there also is a domestic controversy by leftwingers that A/B/C war criminals should be segregated from Yasukuni Shrine.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

The most of Japanese know that his action (and ex-PMs visiting Yasukuni Shrine) is nothing more than paying respect to ancestors who sacrificed their lives regardless of various perceptions of "history" domestically and globally.

No, the people organizing this particular event have gone so far as to admit that at least some of these ancestors actually deserved to be executed. Never mind anyone else's perceptions.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@Simon Foston Up until late 1990s, the most of Japanese viewed WW2 as an unforgivable sin of Japan. This is mainly because of five decades of Japanese education teaching the masochistic view of history. The penetration of internet enable people to easily access information and start questioning the ligitimacy of what Japan had been accused for. That is why there are two dominant parties in Japan, leftwingers who continue to seek for a forgiveness for WW2 and rightwingers who seek for the truth based on historical evidence. Yet, what they have in common is they both stand on the same consensous on "never to repeat the same tragedy again". Like you said, there certainly are people who believe war criminals deserve to die, however, there are no one who is asking for the reinstallation of Imperalism except for some rightwing extremists occasionally driving a black vans but they are as insignificant as skinheads worshiping Nazi. Oh well, at least I'm glad to be born in a country where the freedom of speech is constitutionally protected.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Abe has been hailed as 'the best leader' Japan ever has by his taku and maniakku since sliced bread. Now what? An embarrassment that even his fans would be shy away ?

I think Abe could be repeating the same cycle as Bush&Cheney duo did years ago. This episode might set a slippery slope for his career because his domestic economic policies and foreign policy are both on verge of deterioration.

The paradox is that on one hand Abe’s admin lambaste Japan’s neighbors for not letting Japan’s war-time atrocities go after 70 year, on the other hand, Abe himself keeps honoring convicted war criminals to harbor toxic nationalism. Well, one can’t have both since world does not operate that way.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

That is why there are two dominant parties in Japan, leftwingers who continue to seek for a forgiveness for WW2 and rightwingers who seek for the truth based on historical evidence.

Most commendable. What a pity the Americans let the Japanese military and political authorities destroy so much historical evidence after Japan surrendered.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

@Simon Foston

What a pity the Americans let the Japanese military and political authorities destroy so much historical evidence after Japan surrendered.

Don't worry, Japan obviously couldn't destroy every evidence existed across the world in such a short period of time especially under post-war chaos and depression. There still are significant amount of evidence available not only in Japan but also in all over the world. Just by saying "Japan destoryed evidence" would no longer justify lies and distortions because there are evidnece that contradict against their accusations.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

How can leading the country to complete and total destruction 'form the foundation of peace and prosperity in Japan today'? Or is Abe's view of history so distorted that he thinks Japan actually won the war? Either way this is a greivous insult to generations of hard working Japanese who were responsible for building Japan up from the ashes of the conflagration started, stoked and fanned by the odious 'Martyrs' Abe is celebrating.

Japan lost the war. And it lost it very badly. So it is both illogical and dishonest to say that these criminals made Japan what it is today. It is thanks to the hardworking post-war generations of Japanese that Japan florished.

The LDP view of history is so grossly distorted that one wonders if they will start mandating textbooks that say Japan only lost the war in the war in western media...but really it was a victory for the Japanese.

Abe truly is devoid of any sense of historical perspective and intellectual honesty...and that is putting it politely.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

There still are significant amount of evidence available not only in Japan but also in all over the world.

Let me guess. The evidence that wasn't destroyed by the Japanese authorities just so happens to correspond to the 'right wing' view that there weren't actually any Japanese war crimes at all. How very convenient.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

boweevil- "So it is both illogical and dishonest to say that these criminals made Japan what it is today. It is thanks to the hardworking post-war generations of Japanese that Japan florished."

So very very true. It is a shame that Abe is bringing disrepute to the same country that those hard working Japanese people have taken to the forefront of technology, industry and expertise after WWII. To the point where they are respected by the rest of the world with many people aspiring to be like or as good as the Japanese. There is a story that I was told as a boy about a very famous Swiss watch maker that was peeved at Japans growing reputation in becoming a world class watch maker. The Swiss watch maker set about manufacturing the worlds smallest watch spring and sent it to Seiko to put Seiko in its place. Seiko sent the watch spring back to the Swiss watch maker with a microscopic hole drilled drilled sideways through every spring leaf. That really says it all. Lets hope that Abe and his current supporters don't go down in history as being the one's that brought a great country to its knees.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japan probably can understand where Chinese (except Taiwanese) sentiment is coming from but how would Koreans be justified for this accusation? You should know 148 Koreans and 173 Taiwanese were prosecuted as C-class war criminals.

Applying that logic to different situations, no one in Europe has any right to criticise the Nazis because in every country there were numerous collaborators, spies and sympathisers, e.g. fascists from Britain, France and the Low Countries who joined the Waffen SS. The British and Americans have no right to criticise the Soviets because there were MI6 and CIA agents who were actually working for the KGB.

So you see how ridiculous that position is?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Simon Foston

The evidence that wasn't destroyed by the Japanese authorities just so happens to correspond to the 'right wing' view that there weren't actually any Japanese war crimes at all.

Not necessary but depending on the point of argument. If you want to argue "there weren't actually any Japanese war crimes at all", you need to first gather evidence against the legitimacy of "The International Military Tribunal for the Far East" such as remarks by Radhabinod Pal. There is an argument by rightwingers that Imperial Japan took a role to fight against leading Western powers to deterrent farther colonization toward Asia such as USSR strategy of pushing southward. There also are positive remarks by other Asian gov officials toward Japan upon WW2 as Japan/German/Italy were not only nations who expanded their territories by invasion and colonization for whatever reasons. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Colonisation2.gif You should know how Japan entered into WW2 was not because of Pearl Harbor, and you must go way back to "First Sino-Japanese War" in late 19th century. Regardless of what's been said and debated amongst historians, the existing history as of today (not only limited to WW2 controversies) is mostly written by victors hence it is always fascinating to study with new findings. The history is not black & white as you apparently think it is.

Applying that logic to different situations, no one in Europe has any right to criticise the Nazis because in every country there were numerous collaborators, spies and sympathisers

You clearly lack the basic knowledge of where Koreans/Taiwanese stood during WW2. You need to check out what Class B/C war criminals represented, then you should eventually know they were not mere "collaborators, spies and sympathisers".

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

If you want to argue "there weren't actually any Japanese war crimes at all"...

No. I don't.

...you need to first gather evidence against the legitimacy of "The International Military Tribunal for the Far East" such as remarks by Radhabinod Pal.

What, like this?

"'The evidence is still overwhelming that atrocities were perpetrated by the members of the Japanese armed forces against the civilian population of some of the territories occupied by them as also against the prisoners of war."

You clearly lack the basic knowledge of where Koreans/Taiwanese stood during WW2.

Kindly don't make insolent, patronising assumptions like that, given that you seem to lack basic knowledge of what happened and what was said about the war crimes trials. Either that or you're just overlooking irritating details that don't fit in with what you would like to believe.

You need to check out what Class B/C war criminals represented, then you should eventually know they were not mere "collaborators, spies and sympathisers".

I see you only commented on part of my post. Picking and choosing in order to make your argument stronger? Don't have the cheek to tell me what I need to do either.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Simon Foston

If you want to argue "there weren't actually any Japanese war crimes at all"...

No. I don't.

That makes two of us. I don't advocate certain rightwingers' viewpoint that Japan is all that innocent did nothing wrong during WW2. I'm just saying for the sake of argument.

What, like this? "'The evidence is still overwhelming that atrocities were perpetrated by the members of the Japanese armed forces against the civilian population of some of the territories occupied by them as also against the prisoners of war."

Ah... did Pal conclude "therefore The International Military Tribunal for the Far East is a legitimate process"? Does his statement you mentioned have anything to do to discredit 1275pgs of his decision document? Stop acting stupid. You know damn well what I was getting at.

Kindly don't make insolent, patronising assumptions like that, given that you seem to lack basic knowledge of what happened and what was said about the war crimes trials. Either that or you're just overlooking irritating details that don't fit in with what you would like to believe.

As soon as you categorized Koreans/Taiwanese in the same level of "collaborators, spies and sympathisers" along with few examples (Nazi collaborators, facists who joined Waffen-SS, MI6&CIA collaborated with KGB), you are very much entitled to be considered as "lacking a basic knowledge". I'll put it this way. While there were plenty of "collaborators, spies and sympathisers" all over Asia for Japan during WW2, why were only Koreans and Taiwanese convicted by this trial?

I see you only commented on part of my post. Picking and choosing in order to make your argument stronger?

As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't make my argument weaker nor stronger even if I quoted your entire statement. I just omitted the pointless notion to shorten your quote. Nothing intentional.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Ah... did Pal conclude "therefore The International Military Tribunal for the Far East is a legitimate process"? Does his statement you mentioned have anything to do to discredit 1275pgs of his decision document?

Your initial point was with regard to whether war crimes occurred or not, not the legitimacy of the trials.

Stop acting stupid.

You first.

You know damn well what I was getting at.

Not really, you seem to keep changing the topic whenever it suits you.

As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't make my argument weaker nor stronger even if I quoted your entire statement.

When you're making a point that other people are going to read, it hardly matters what you think. It's all in how it's perceived. To me it looks like you're just splitting hairs and not making any sort of persuasive case whatsoever. If you think you're convincing me of anything you're very mistaken, and I certainly feel no inclination to pay any attention to crass, patronising assumptions about what I do and don't know. I'll try and make this simple. Europeans from other countries helped the Nazis by spying for them, serving in their armed forces or local fascist forces that worked with them and assisting in their crimes against humanity, acts for which many were tried and punished. You can try and argue that there's a clear distinction between that and what the Koreans and Taiwanese did, but as far as I'm concerned, you're wasting your time because I'm certainly not going to read or comment on anything else you write. I can't be bothered.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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